Mashal Khan lynching case: Notices issued for hearing of appeals

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Monday issued notices to respondents in an application filed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advocate General Office for hearing of all appeals in principal seat of the high court.

A single bench of Chief Justice Yahya Afridi heard the application. During hearing, Iftikhar Ahmad, counsel for the respondents accused, requested the court to give him some time to go through the application.

Law officer, representing the provincial government, submitted before the bench that the state and Muhammad Iqbal Khan, father of Mashal Khan, had filed appeals against the decision of Anti-Terrorism Court in the principal seat of the high court, while the convicted persons in the Mashal Khan lynching case had filed appeals against the conviction at the PHC Abbottabad Circuit Bench.

He requested the court to club all the appeals and fixed for hearing in the principal seat.However, the respondents’ lawyer requested the court to adjourn the case as he was not prepared and aware of the grounds taken in the application for fixing all cases here in the principal seat as he submitted his power of attorney on Monday in the case.

The court adjourned the case and fixed March 26 for next hearing. The provincial government and Mashal father had filed appeals against acquittal of 26 accused and for enhancement of sentence to the convicted persons.