ATC acquits 20 suspects in Christian couple killing case

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court here has acquitted 20 suspects booked for allegedly lynching and immolating a Christian couple accused of committing blasphemy in Kot Radha Kishan in 2014.

In Nov 2014, brick factory workers – Shahzad and his wife Shama – were burned to death in a brick kiln by a charged mob for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran. The woman, a mother of three, was said to be pregnant at the time of the incident.

The ATC judge exonerated 20 suspects from all charges for lack of compelling evidence.

Those acquitted included Babar Ali, Islamuddin, Zulifqar Ali, Arshad Ali, Jawed, Abid Sabir, Muhammad Sharif, Aftab, and Abid Hasan.

Police had arrested a large number of people over their alleged role in the lynching and burning alive of the couple.

In Nov 2016, the ATC sentenced five people to death on two counts and eight others were awarded varying punishments.

In a matter of similar nature, a 23-year-old student at Abdul Wali Khan University (AWKU) in Mardan was beaten and shot to death on April 13 last year by an unruly mob instigated by rumours that he had committed blasphemy by posting sacrilegious content online.

On February 07,  the ATC sentenced the prime suspect to death while five others to 25 years’ imprisonment in the case.

ATC Judge Fazal-i-Subhan Khan acquitted 26 suspects and awarded three years of jail term to 25 other accused in the case.