PESHAWAR: A special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) here on Monday acquitted two accused nominated in the case related to the 2014 attack on the Army Public School (APS), Peshawar, citing a lack of evidence.
Also, the court declared 16 other nominated militants including Mangal Bagh, Gul Bahadur and Commander Omar Khalid Khorasani as proclaimed offenders.The case was heard by ATC Judge Asad Ali.
At the outset of the hearing, the prosecution informed the court that armed militants had attacked the Army Public School on December 16, 2014, resulting in the martyrdom of over 150 students and teachers and leaving around 250 others injured.
Following an investigation, the Counter-Terrorism Department had nominated the two accused Shakeel and Jan Wali in the case and submitted a challan against them.During the proceedings, counsel for the accused argued that his clients had no role in the incident and that the prosecution had failed to present any evidence or witnesses against them so far.
He requested the court to acquit the accused under Section 265-K of the Criminal Procedure Code.After completion of arguments, the court accepted the acquittal plea and discharged the two accused from the case due to insufficient evidence.The court issued perpetual arrest warrants for 16 nominated militants in the case and declared them proclaimed offenders.
