February 3, 2006	Friday	Muharram 4, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 2: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued stern warning to a parliamentary secretary and asked him not to issue affidavits on court matters in future. A three-member bench comprising Justice Rana Bhagwandas, Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday and Justice Nasirul Mulk warned Parliamentary Secretary for Kashmir Affairs Sardar Shahjehan Yousaf to refrain from issuing any documents for court purposes in future.

Shahjehan Yousaf, a ruling party National Assembly member from Mansehra had submitted an affidavit on a murder case in the court endorsing that he knew victim’s family who had forgiven the murderer after a compromise was amicably reached between the two families.

The affidavit had stated that the family of the deceased girl had forgiven Mukhtar and that girl’s father Aurengzeb and her husband was the only legal heir.

Later when the apex court directed the Session Judge concerned to investigate the matter, it was told that the compromise had no mention of Musabbir Jan, the mother of Salma, who was killed by one Mukhtar.

At this the court summoned Shahjehan Yousaf and inquired as to why he ignored the mother of the deceased girl in his certificate. The parliamentary secretary however tendered unconditional apology for the mistake.

On Thursday the mother of the girl appeared before the court and said that she also had forgiven the murderer.

At this the court accepted the appeal of Mukhtar against the conviction and ordered his release on the basis of the compromise but warned the ruling party member not to issue such affidavits.

Earlier, the trial court had awarded life imprisonment to Mukhtar for killing Salma who had married with his brother-in-law despite the fact that the person had divorced his earlier wife years ago. The Peshawar High Court also upheld the trial court’s decision by dismissing Mukhtar’s appeal. Consequently he moved an appeal before the Supreme Court which was heard and concluded on Thursday.