CJP withdraws suo motu notice on Asma Rani murder case

Author: Agencies

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar withdrew on Monday the suo motu notice taken over the murder case of Kohat’s Asma Rani.

A three-member bench headed by the chief justice conducted the hearing, during which the advocate general of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa told the apex court he had submitted a charge-sheet of the case in the trial court.

To this, the chief justice remarked that the law would make its own way as the accused has been arrested, taking back the suo motu notice he had issued earlier.

Although the case was wrapped up, a few days ago Rani’s family held a news conference during which they said that family of the accused were pressurising them into entering an agreement.

Asma’s brother also requested the Supreme Court to transfer the case to Peshawar, Bannu or Dera Ismail Khan saying the family was facing threats from those backing the accused, who enjoyed support from influential people.

Rani, a third-year MBBS student at Abbottabad medical college, was in her hometown of Kohat on vacation when a man called Mujahidullah Afridi opened fire on her in January this year.

Mujahidullah, who had fled the country after the incident, was handed over to the Pakistani authorities via Interpol after being arrested from United Arab Emirates.

Published in Daily Times, March 27^th2018.