Asma Rani was shot dead by Mujahid Afridi in 2018 for refusing to marry him. He escaped to an Arab country in the Gulf but was extradited through Interpol and awarded the death sentence by a district and sessions court in Peshawar in June 2021.

Mujahid was found guilty of murder and imposed a fine of Rs0.3 million and also directed to pay Rs2 million as compensation.

Asma's family welcomed the decision saying they felt justice had been done.

Since then, her brother Muhammad Imran told the News on Wednesday, there have been attempts to settle the matter between the families.

He denied earlier reports that their father Ghulam Dastegeer had settled the matter, adding that it was up to the elders of the Marwat tribe to make their decision.

However, in a story by Samaa, Dastageer is quoted as saying: “They wronged my daughter but I have decided to pardon the culprit for the sake of Allah’s blessings,” he said.

This has led many to believe the family was under duress.

Earlier on Monday, members of the Marwat Qaumi Jirga told The News they "refused to attend an event to be arranged next Sunday in Kohat to reconcile the families" because they had not been taken into confidence about the settlement.

One of the jirga members said: "We have neither been contacted by Ghulam Dastageer nor we have objection to the settlement but its procedure is not appropriate as a matter of principles the accused party should have come to Lakki Marwat rather than asking Marwat elders to go to Kohat for settlement.”

People took to social media to lament news of the pardon.

Some pointed at how the judicial system has provisions for disallowing pardons.

But largely there was a sense of sadness around the news.