The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the lynching of Mashal Khan, a student of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM), has completed its enquiry report revealing the indirect involvement of a certain political group in the incident. According to the report, Mashal Khan's murder was carried out after a proper planning. The report says that Mashal used to speak openly against irregularities in the university whereas no evidence suggesting that he committed blasphemy has been found.
The report stated that the political group was threatened as Mashal Khan would openly speak of its influence on the varsity's administration that is why the group incited people to attack him over blasphemy. The report also said "However, there is no proof against Mashal and his friends of being involved in blasphemy," but the president of Pakhtunkhawa Students Federation (PSF), the student wing of Awami National Party (ANP) and an employee of the university wanted to rusticate Mashal for his blunt comments against irregularities in AWKUM. The report has revealed that most of the people at university ranging from the registrar to security officer were hired on the basis of nepotism. "They even have criminal records which had disrupted the environment of the university and it should be investigated," the report read.
The report stated that the murder of Mashal Khan was pre-planned and also raised questions about the role of the police. The report further stated that Mashal last spoke to the hostel warden after was tortured by a mob, recited the kalma and pleaded to be taken to the hospital. A total of 57 people has been suspected to be involved in the ghastly lynching, out of which 54 have been arrested. Twelve of the arrested people were employees of the university.
Mashal was lynched in the campus over allegations of blasphemy in April, after which a 13-member JIT was formed to probe the case. It is worth mentioning here that Mashal Khan was lynched by a mob of students on April 13 for alleged blasphemy, and administration had closed the university after the tragic incident. He was fatally shot at a close range after being thrown down from the second-storey of the hostel. Imran, a varsity mate of the victim confessed to pulling the trigger. However, no blasphemy accusations on Mashal Khan could be proved, and the prime suspects have also confessed to killing him due to conflict in ideologies.
No content from Business Recorder shall be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication, or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Business Recorder shall not be responsible or held liable for any error of fact, opinion or recommendation and also for any loss, financial or otherwise, resulting from business or trade or speculation conducted, or investments made, on the basis of the information posted here. Nor shall Business Recorder be held liable for any actions taken in consequence." >Copyright Business Recorder, 2017