Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought explanation from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak for requesting the Peshawar High Court (PHC) to form a judicial commission to probe Mashal Khan’s lynching.

The court also restrained the PHC and directed it not to act upon the CM’s request.

Expressing satisfaction over the progress of KP police in probing the matter, the court observed that the joint investigation team (JIT) was competent enough to deal with the matter and there is no need to form a judicial commission.

The court directed KP Inspector General Salahuddin Khan Mehsud to supervise the probe and apprise the court regarding progress weekly.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, took up for hearing the suo motu notice over the brutal killing of Wali Khan University student Mashal Khan.

KP home secretary, IG Salahuddin Khan Mehsud and Additional Advocate General Waqar Ahmed appeared before the bench.

Waqar informed the court that an initial report of the incident had been submitted. He said that two first information reports (FIRs) had been registered in which 28 suspects had been nominated. Out of these, 24 suspects had been arrested.

He added that a JIT under Section 19 of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 was formed. The JIT is headed by the Mardan Investigation Wing superintendent of police and comprising of one representative of the Investigation Bureau, a deputy superintendent of police and three sub-inspectors.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial said, “There is something which needs to be unearthed. It is important to get to the bottom.”

Mehsud said the police were making efforts and more than 80 percent investigation had been completed. The court adjourned the hearing until April 27.