Supreme Court wraps up suo motu hearing into Mashal lynching case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday disposed of a suo motu case pertaining to the lynching of Mashal Khan after conviction of accused persons by an anti-terrorism court in the case.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, wrapped up the suo motu hearing, observing that since the ATC had decided the case, awarding sentences to several accused persons, there was no need to proceed with the matter.

A state counsel told the judges that the trial court had convicted several suspects and the provincial government had challenged acquittal of some accused in the Peshawar High Court.

Mashal, 23, a student at Abdul Wali Khan University (AWKU) in Mardan, was beaten and shot to death on April 13 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 four years of jail term to 25 other accused in the case.

Convict Imran, who has been awarded capital punishment, was found guilty of firing shots at the victim student from his pistol, which led to his death.

He had also confessed to the crime before the court.

The court had reserved the verdict on January 30 after prosecution and defence sides concluded their arguments in the case.

Nearly 50 prosecution witnesses testified against the suspects during the course of the hearing conducted inside Haripur Central Jail.

The prosecution charged 61 people in the case, while 57 of them were arrested and produced before the court for trial. Still four accused of the incident said to be at large.