Afridi was charged for shooting Rani, an MBBS student at the Abbottabad Medical College, in January 2018 after she refused his marriage proposal. Rani, in a video posted before her death, mentioned the proposal and named Afridi who was arrested in March 2018 in UAE after red notices were issued by Interpol on the orders of the Pakistan government. His case was transferred to Peshawar in April 2018 after Rani's brother petitioned that Afridi belonged to a prominent family and the case should not be tried in Kohat.

Friday's verdict was announced in the Peshawar central jail for security reasons.

Tweets surfaced after the decision was announced with some praising the judiciary, others criticizing the decision to award him with capital punishment while others focused on the political aspect of the situation.

While Dr.Mati summarized the case and labeled it as a "good decision" Qaiser Abbas said this is what is required in the country; "justice, rule of law and constitution."

Several people remarked on the death sentences, saying how had to happen in "main public chowks" as a silent death "reduces the effect of the punishment of this person."

One user also praised law enforcement for its "transparent investigation" of the case, and for bringing the accused to Kohat from UAE.

Others said such capital sentences were necessary to lead to justice.

However, several noted that "95% of the death sentences are avoided in the Supreme Court" and how the accused might go to the Supreme Court to "reverse or delay the verdict."

However, a video uploaded by Rani's sister Safia Rani, wherein she claimed the killers were "helped fully till now by MNA Shehryar Afridi" received criticism. One user said it was unfair to name the MNA.