PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday ordered immediate release of 25 convicts who were earlier sentenced to 3 years in prison in Mashal Khan murder case.
An anti-terrorism court (ACT) had handed the 25 people 3 years imprisonment with regards to murder of 25-year-old Mashal.
The convicts, however, filed appeals against the decision, while they also submitted surety bonds after which they were acquitted by the court. The Supreme Court (SC) also accepted bail plea of all 25 individuals.
On Sunday, father of slain Mashal, Muhammad Iqbal Khan, submitted appeals against the special Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) judgment in the PHC.
Submitted through advocates Fazal Khan, Muhammad Ayaz, Shahab Khattak and barrister Amirullah Khan, the appeals challenged all those court decisions in which Imran Ali, has been acquitted and asked for the increase of his punishment. The appeals cited sections of the law.
He also challenged the acquittal of 26 accused asking for their convictions and punishments, as they were released.
The father said the acquittals will set a negative example for the youth of Pakistan and that these appeals were filed to reinstate the writ of law.
Muhammad Iqbal Khan added that there was 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.