PESHAWAR: A model court has sentenced a man to death with a fine of Rs400,000 for killing a youth in Mardan district some three years ago.

       The court presided over by additional district and sessions judge Iftikhar Ilahi gave the ruling against Usman Ghani.

       The judge, however, acquitted a female co-accused over lack of evidence.

       Body of Taimoor Khan, 19, was recovered from a field after he had gone missing.

       Jamroz Khan, an uncle of the victim, was complainant in the case, whose FIR was registered with the Saddar police station of Mardan on April 15, 2018.

       Assistant public prosecutor Zulfiqar Ali appeared for the state, whereas the complainant was represented by Mohammad Riaz Advocate.

       They contended that the convict had admitted his guilt in a confessional statement recorded before the magistrate concerned. They, however, stated that the motive for the offence was also clear. They said the deceased was stepson of the female co-accused, and suspected illicit relationship between his stepmother and the convict.

       They said the convict had taken away mobile of the deceased and sold it to a dealer. The police recovered the phone from him.

       Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2021