Mardan lynching: Father says Mashal Khan was a true follower of Islam

PESHAWAR: The father of Mashal Khan, who was lynched by a mob at Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, on Thursday, said on Friday that his son used to criticise the interest-based system.

He further said that Mashal Khan would talk about the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) with the family members at home. He was used to respect religion. His prime focus was on education.

Being a father, I want justice, he demanded of the authorities concerned. He further said that his son was a journalist student and he would question the system and its injustices.

'We are peaceful people and believe on peace. We want to spread love and peace in this country. We are against Wars and fights.'

Mashal was his sister's best friend and teacher. He would tell her to dream big. For Mashal, education was the ultimate goal, his aim was to win a Nobel, she said.

He firmly believed in equal justice for everyone and look what they did to him, she said. 'We want the perpetrators be brought to the book.'

Meanwhile, the funeral prayers for Mohammad Mashal Khan were offered at Zaida village in Swabi district on Friday morning.

Mohammad Mashal Khan, a student of Mass Communication Department of Abdul Wali Khan University was lynched on Thursday over alleged blasphemous remarks. The unprecedented violence at the sprawling campus of the university prompted the administration to close the institution for an indefinite period.

A case has been registered against 20 suspects.