MIANWALI, July 27: A local court on Wednesday set at liberty two accused in an honour killing case, as the victim’s legal heirs pardoned them. According to the prosecution, Shah Jehan and Zaidi Khan, residents of Piplan, shot dead Bashir Akhtar of the same locality outside the district courts on July 27, 2004.

The City police had registered an FIR against the suspects, who said Bashir took Shah Jehan’s sister away and married her despite being already married and having two daughters.

The girl’s parents got a case registered against Bashir. During trial the legal heirs of Bashir, especially his widow (first wife) Shabana Shaheen pardoned the killers.

District and Sessions Judge Syed Iftikhar Husain Shah freed both accused who on the court directive deposited Rs175,000 worth defence saving certificates in the name of the two minor daughters of the deceased.

It is learnt that the accused had brought his sister back, but she sought refuge in Darul Aman after Bashir’s death.