PESHAWAR: Mashal Khan’s father Muhammad Iqbal Khan on Saturday submitted additional appeals against the decision of an Anti-Terrorism court (ATC) in the Peshawar high court (PHC) on Saturday.
Submitted by advocates Fazal Khan, Muhammad Ayaz, Shahab Khattak and barrister Amirullah Khan, the appeals challenged the acquittal of 26 accused. The appeals also called for the conviction and punishment of 25 persons, who were given four years of punishment.
According to the details, Mashal’s father beseeched the court against the acquittal of some of the accused as it will set a negative example for the youth of Pakistan. Iqbal added that there is clear evidence available against acquitted students and emphasised that the five convicts who were awarded life imprisonment by the ATC judge, should have been given capital punishment.
In the appeals submitted to the PHC, he also asked for the conviction and punishment of 25 persons, who were given four years of punishment by the ATC judge. His lawyers also believe that there is ample evidence available against them and they gathered in the form of an illegal mob with the common intentions to kill Mashal Khan. They added that these appeals were filed to reinstate the writ of law.
Earlier on February 14, Aimal Khan, brother of Mashal Khan petitioned the Peshawar High Court (PHC), challenging the anti-terrorism court’s decision to exonerate 26 suspects in his brother’s lynching case.
Barrister Amir Ullah Khan Chamkani counsel for Aimal Khan filed the petition in which the petitioner beseeched the court to reopen the case and stressed that all 26 suspects can be seen in the videos of the incident proving their involvement in the murder of Mashal.
The petition further argues that the ATC erroneously acquitted the suspects as there was sufficient incriminating evidence against them, which it failed to take into consideration while deciding the case.
Besides, the accused persons had confessed to their involvement in the crime while addressing a welcome party on arrival at Motorway interchange Rashakai Mardan after release from Haripur Central Jail on February 7.
The petitioner pleaded before PHC that ATC verdict in Mashaal Khan murder case causes confusion, therefore, it needs to be reviewed and all accused who were acquitted should be punished according to law.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on February 21, also filed three petitions in the Peshawar High Court (PHC), challenging the anti-terrorism court’s (ATC) verdict.
MASHAL’S CASE IMPORTANT TO COUNTRY’S YOUTH
“This is the most important case,” said Muhammad Iqbal while talking to media after submitting appeals, “It is important because the future of all the students and youth of the country is connected to it.”
We have expressed disagreements with the judgment, added Iqbal, with the purpose of upholding the rule of law and to show an enlightened Pakistan to the global community.
Iqbal said that the demands made by his family are geared towards reinstating supremacy of the law and the in deciding the fate of all the accused in the case should be decided according to it.
