MARDAN: The father of a woman, who was killed at her residence over six years ago, has requested chief justice of Pakistan, prime minister and human rights bodies to help him in getting justice as his daughter’s alleged killer has recently been acquitted by a trial court.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Gohar Ali alleged that his daughter Neelam Bibi was shot dead by her husband on the eve of Eidul Azha in September 2015. The said murder had also resulted into a public outcry and people had been demanding “Justice for Neelum.” on social media.

Gohar Ali said that after the occurrence, the accused named Laiq Khan, a resident of Rustam tehsil, fled to Dubai. He said that he was initially arrested there but was later set free there due to late arrival of the relevant documents.

He stated that the accused later escaped to Azerbaijan where he was re-arrested and deported to Pakistan. He said that the accused was now acquitted by the court of an additional district and sessions judge, citing lack of sufficient evidence.

The aggrieved father said that his daughter was killed in broad daylight in her bedroom. He said that the accused had neither registered FIR of her murder nor he had attended her funeral. He questioned that if the accused had not killed his daughter then why he failed to register the FIR and why he did not attend the funeral and remained absconder for three years.

He said that the deceased had left behind two sons, seven-year-old Alyan and five-year-old Farhan, who had been residing with him, but the accused had never enquired after them.

He said that they would file an appeal against the judgment in Peshawar High Court and the government should support him in getting justice. He said that they had a very strong case and the evidence available on record clearly connected the accused with the commission of the offence.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2022