HARIPUR: The Anti-Terrorism Court, Abbottabad, started recording statements of witnesses in the Mashal lynching case here on Thursday.

The case was recently transferred to the Anti-Terrorism Court, Hazara division, from Mardan on the request of Mohammad Iqbal, father of Mashal Khan. The first hearing was held on Sept 19 while during the second hearing that was held on Wednesday in the Haripur Central Jail seven official witnesses, all police personnel, recorded their statements as prosecution witnesses before the ATC, headed by Judge Fazal-i-Subhan Khan.

On this occasion, Mohammad Iqbal also appeared before the court with his lawyer. September 27 has been fixed as the next date of hearing.

Mashal Khan, a student of Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, was lynched by a mob on April 13 on the varsity premises over alleged blasphemy charges. However, he was later acquitted of the charges by a joint investigation team.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2017