PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday granted interim bail to Supreme Court Bar Association President Abdul Latif Afridi in the murder case of Swat Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Aftab Afridi and his three family members against surety bond of Rs100,000.

Mr Latif Afridi was nominated in the assassination of ATC judge along with nine other persons, but he had submitted pre-arrest bail plea in the PHC.

The court after hearing the bail plea ordered the accused to submit a surety bond of Rs100,000 for the interim bail.

It is to mention here Swat ATC judge Aftab Afridi, his wife, a one-and-half-year grandson and daughter-in-law were travelling from Peshawar to Islamabad via Swabi when unknown assailants attacked his car near the Ambar Interchange on Sunday.

Two security guards, who were part of the judge’s convoy, were also injured in the attack which occurred in the jurisdiction of the Chota Lahor police station of Swabi.

Majid Afridi, the deceased judge’s son, had nominated 10 suspects, including SCBA President Abdul Latif Afridi and his son, in the killing of his father and other family members.

Swabi police arrest two suspects, seize car used in the murder

The gruesome incident was widely condemned. Prime Minister Imran Khan had assured that the perpetrators of the tragic incident would not be spared and would be dealt with full severity of law.

The SCBA president, in a statement, had denied his involvement in the incident and said that he and his son had been falsely implicated in the FIR.

He had assured that he would fully cooperate with the relevant agencies as both he and his son had nothing to do with the murder of the judge and his family members.

Our correspondent from Swabi adds: The police claimed on Wednesday to have arrested two suspects in connection with the killing of Swat ATC judge Aftab Afridi and his family members.

District police officer Mohammad Shoaib Khan told a press conference that Aziz Khan belonging to Warsak area of Peshawar and Daud Khan of Badbher were held during raids in Peshawar and Khyber.

He said Aziz provided the information about the movement of the judge’s car and Daud’s vehicle was used in the incident.

DPO Shoaib admitted that arrest of all the people nominated in the FIR was a test case for the police.

Earlier, Swabi DPO had stated that five suspects had been arrested during raids conducted in Peshawar and Khyber districts.

However, sources told Dawn that the five suspects had been released after initial interrogation.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2021