Pakistan court acquits 42 Christians in lynching case

KARACHI, Pakistan

A Pakistani court on Wednesday acquitted 42 Christian men accused of lynching two Muslims to death in reaction to suicide attacks on churches in 2015, court documents and local media revealed.

The anti-terrorism court in northeastern city of Lahore acquitted all 42 suspects, who had been indicted in 2016 for their alleged involvement in the lynching after the twin attacks on churches in the city’s Youhanabad area -- home to over 100,000 Christians, local broadcaster Dawn News reported.

Two of the suspects died while in jail, reportedly due to a lack of medical facilities.

The court exonerated the accused persons, including those who passed away, after the victims' families confirmed that both sides have reached an agreement and that they had no objection over their acquittal, the broadcaster reported.

Some 15 people were killed and over 70 injured when two suicide bombers attacked churches in Youhanabad in March 2015.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned militant group, had claimed responsibility for the attacks that sparked violent protests.

Mistaking two Muslim teenagers for accomplices of the suicide bombers, an angry mob captured and burned them alive.