PESHAWAR, Nov 4: A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court on Tuesday acquitted a man, Janas Khan, in a murder case and set aside his conviction by a trial court in Charssada.

The bench comprising Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Fazalur Rehman observed that the prosecution could not prove its case against the appellant.

An additional district and sessions judge sentenced the appellant to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs100,000.

The complainant in the case was Liaqat Khan. He alleged that on Jan 27, 2001 he was going to his village with his father Gul Parast and brothers Nisar Ali, Attaullah and Akhter Gul when Noor Parast and his sons Jehanzeb, Janas Khan and Asghar fired at them with Kalashnakovs, as a result of which Akhter Gul died. The motive behind the murder was stated to be a land dispute.

Advocate Noor Alam Khan appeared for the appellant and argued that except for Janas Khan other accused in the case were absconding.