PESHAWAR: A model criminal court has acquitted an accused charged with killing eight persons in Badbher area here over a decade ago.

Judge Aamir Ali ruled that the prosecution could not prove its case against the accused, Niaz Dar, a resident of Badbher, and the evidence on record did not connect him with the commission of the offence.

The occurrence had taken place in Jun 2006 and an FIR was registered at Badbher police station under sections 302, 324, 427 of PPC and section 3-4 of Explosives Substance Act.

According to the prosecution, a brother of the accused was killed, for which, the family suspected the involvement of two brothers belonging to Waziristan, and living in Peshawar. And in retaliation, the accused along with his brothers allegedly killed an elder, Azram Khan, the father of the two brothers from Waziristan.

It is said that eight relatives of Azram Khan, after knowing about his killing, arrived in Peshawar from Waziristan, and as soon as they had disembarked from the vehicle, accused Niaz and his brothers fired at them, killing of seven of them on the spot, whereas the eighth one managed to escape.

The accused had also allegedly hurled a hand grenade at the escaping person, causing him minor injuries.

The accused had remained absconder for few years and was subsequently arrested and now the case was referred to the model court for speedy trial.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2019