LAKKI MARWAT: Marwat Qaumi Jirga member Akhtar Munir Khan Marwat on Monday said the organisation didn’t object to the out-of-court settlement of the Asma Rani murder case but had no role in it.

He told reporters that the MQJ had turned down the request of the slain girl’s father to attend the meeting slated to be held next Sunday for the purpose. The meeting will take place at Kohat’s Tableeghi Markaz, where the killer’s family will formally request the slain medical student’s parents to pardon him.

The MQJ discussed the matter during a meeting chaired by its head, Haji Mohammad Aslam Khan, at Meenakhel Fort in Lakki city.

The participants included JUI-F district chief Maulana Abdul Rahim, former district councillors Haji Amir Nawaz Khan and Maulana Asghar Ali, Nawabzada Abdul Rahim Khan.

Says its members won’t attend Kohat meeting to be held for purpose

Former tehsil nazim Faridullah Khan Meenakhel, Akhtar Munir Marwat,lawyer Wahid Aslam Khan Begukhel, Dr Mohammad Iqbal of the PTI, Hamayun Khan of the ANP and other elders also attended the meeting.

Mr Akhtar told reporters that none of the MQJ members received money to facilitate the settlement of the murder case out of court. He said the deceased’s family didn’t consult the MQJ before deciding to pardon the killer.

The MQJ leader said the reconciliation meeting would be held in Kohat against the local traditions under which the killer’s family was supposed to visit the deceased’s to seek forgiveness.

He, however, said the forum won’t obstruct the case settlement as it was the right of the slain girl’s family to pardon the killer or receive compensation.

Asma Rani, a medical student from Lakki Marwat, was killed by Mujahidullah in Kohat on Jan 27, 2018, for turning down his marriage proposal. The gunman, who was named by the deceased in a video statement recorded before her death, later fled to the United Arab Emirates. However, he was brought back in March through the Interpol.

District and sessions judge of Peshawar Ashfaque Taj had convicted him for the murder and handed down death sentence and Rs300,000 fine to him besides ordering him to pay Rs2 million compensation to the deceased’s family.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2021