HYDERABAD: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday acquitted a man who was handed a life sentence three years ago in connection with a 2017 suicide case of a university student.
The body of Naila Rind was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her room in Sindh University’s Marvi Hostel in Jamshoro on Jan 1, 2017. She was a final-year student of the Sindhi department. Days later, police arrested Anees Khaskheli, a private school teacher, based on data retrieved from Naila’s mobile phone, which showed frequent communication between them.
In January 2023, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) had sentenced Anees under Section 7-A (acts of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, read with Section 321 [Qatl-bis-sabab (causing death to a person unintentionally)] of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
He was also found guilty of committing offences under Sections 21(b) and (c) (cyberstalking) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016.
The same year, Anees challenged his conviction before the SHC. On Monday, a division bench comprising Justice Amjad Ali Bohio and Justice Mohammad Hasan Akber announced the verdict in the appeal heard by a bench consisting of Justices Omar Sial and Mohammad Abdur Rahman.
