The prosecution does not present sufficient evidence or witnesses against the accused
PESHAWAR:
In a significant development in one of the country’s most tragic terrorism cases, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Peshawar acquitted two persons accused for lack of evidence in the 2014 Army Public School (APS) attack, which claimed the lives of over 150 people, mostly school children.
The court, headed by Justice Asad Ali, heard the case related to the brutal assault on December 16, 2014, when armed terrorists of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) stormed the Army Public School in Peshawar. The attack led to the martyrdom of more than 150 students and teachers and around 250 were injured.
Prosecutors informed the court that the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) had named Shakil and Jan Wali as suspects following investigations and filed a chargesheet against them. However, the defense attorney argued that his clients were not involved in the incident. They further maintained that the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence or witnesses against the accused during the trial.
Pursuant to Article 265-K of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the defense sought acquittal, stating that there was no credible evidence linking the suspects to the crime. After hearing full arguments from both sides, the court accepted the plea and acquitted Shakil and Jan Wali, releasing them from the case.
The court also declared 16 other designated terrorists fugitives (fugitives) and issued perpetual arrest warrants against them. The list includes prominent terrorist figures such as Mangal Bagh, Haji Gul Bahadur, Major Umar Khalid Khurasani, Major Hafiz Saeed, Major Aurangzeb, Major Fazlullah, Hafiz Daulat, Qari Shakil, Qari Saifullah, Islam Farooqi, Maulvi Faqir, Ajnabi, Angara Apaji, Abu Zar and Sarwar Shah.
The ruling comes amid a lengthy judicial process related to the APS attack, one of the deadliest terrorist incidents in Pakistan’s history. A judicial inquiry into the incident was carried out following the directives of the high court.
