Verdict in Mashal lynching case on 21st

PESHAWAR: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday fixed March 21 for a decision in the trial of remaining four accused persons in the Mashal Khan lynching case.

Mashal Khan, a 23-year-old student of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (Awkum), was lynched by a mob on April 13, 2017, after accusing him of blasphemy. However, the allegations were later proved to be false by a joint investigation team. On March 12, the ATC judge had reserved the verdict for March 16 after lawyers from both the sides concluded their arguments. Earlier, the court had recorded the statements of 40 witnesses, Mashal’s father Iqbal Khan and the four accused including Asad Katlang, Sabir Mayar, a tehsil council member Arif and Izharullah. On Saturday, when the police produced the four accused before the judge, he fixed March 21 for announcement of decision.