The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday ordered to transfer the trial of Mashal Khan lynching case from Mardan to Anti-Terrorism Court in Abbottabad. Abdul Lateef Afridi, the lawyer for Iqbal Khan, requested the bench to transfer the Mashal Khan case to the Anti-Terrorism Court, Haripur or any other safe place, citing possible threats from opponents. The two-member bench of the PHC, headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, heard the petition filed by Iqbal Khan, father of Mashal Khan, and ordered to shift the case to the Haripur Central Jail, where the hearings will now take place.
After hearing the arguments, the PHC ordered to shift the trial of Mashal Khan to Haripur Central Jail. The court also ordered to adopt strict security measure at the Haripur Central Jail where the hearings will now take place. According to details, Mashal's father, Iqbal Khan, as well as the provincial government, had petitioned the PHC to move the case out of Mardan for fear of a law and order situation. Iqbal has stated that he faces pressure from the suspects' families and feared the case would not get a fair trial in Mardan.
Meanwhile, families of the suspects informed the PHC that shifting the case outside Mardan would have a negative impact on the education of the university students. Mashal was a student of the Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan and was lynched by his fellow students and university employees on April 13, 2017, after he was accused of blasphemy. Later, a report of the Joint Investigation Team formed to probe the case revealed that leaders of Pakhtun Students Federation, the student wing of Awami National Party, incited people to attack Mashal on the pretext of blasphemy. The report also stated that the murder was premeditated.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General Police (IGP) Salahuddin Mehsud has said three absconders in Mashal Khan murder case will be arrested soon. Talking to the media after addressing a meeting of police officers and members of reconciliatory committees of four districts of Mardan Region, the police chief said policemen are also under investigation in Mashal Khan murder case. He said no concession will be made with any policeman if negligence was proved.
The IGP said violent activities have reduced by 83 percent in KP for which police deserve credit and appreciation. He said the provincial government has approved a package for security of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor for which 2,500 more policemen will be appointed during the next six months.
"Full security will be provided to national and foreign investors and workers of CPEC in KP. Police will soon initiate new appointments for security of CPEC projects," the police chief said.