QUETTA, Dec 27: A division bench of the Balochistan High Court has confirmed death penalty to 13 accused for killing three persons, including Mir Muhammad Aslam Gichki, a leader of BNP-Mengal.

The vacation judge of the court, Justice Kelash Nath, on Monday announced the judgement reserved by Justice Amanullah Khan Yasinzai and Justice Fazalur Rehman Khan. The bench upheld the verdict and rejected an appeal filed by the petitioners praying to set aside the capital punishment.

The anti-terrorism court, Khuzdar, had punished the 13 accused in the murder case and police arrested four of them. Those convicted in the custody include Mir Qadir Bakhsh, Abdul Khaliq, Muhammad and Khaliq Khan.

The absconders are Sardar Ali Haider Muhammad Hasni, Mir Rustam Muhammad Hasni, Mir Muhammad Yaqoob, Batay Khan, Abdul Karim, Muhammad Akbar, Saifullah, Muhammad Khan and Rahim Bakhsh. Aslam Gichki was the father-in-law of Sardar Akhtar Mengal, president of the Balochistan National Party.