Mardan lynching: Key suspect confesses he provoked mob on university admin’s directions

PESHAWAR: Wajahat, the key accused in the Mardan lynching case, on Monday confessed to his involvement in the lynching of Mashal Khan.

The accused confessed to his crime while recording his statement before the magistrate.

Sources said that Wahajat had held the administration of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan responsible for the incident. He alleged that the university administration had forced him to do so.

Giving further details, the key accused said that he was called at the Chairman Office by the administration on April 13, where 15 to 20 people including Lecturer Zia Ullah, Lecturer Anis, Superintendent Arshad, Clerk Asad, Idrees and Asfandyar were already present.

The administration asked me to make public that Mashal Khan and others had committed blasphemy. Upon this, I delivered a speech alleging that Mashal and others had committed blasphemy. I told people that I had heard Mashal, Abdullah and Zubair uttering blasphemous words. On that occasion, Fahim Alam endorsed my allegations. In the meantime, security in charge Bilal arrived at the scene and warned that whoever tried to side with Mashal will be dealt strictly. He said that he himself would kill Mashal.

Wajahat said that his speech had provoked the mob, which lynched Mashal.

Meanwhile, Abdullah, who was injured in the incident, while recording his statement before the magistrate said that the university administration was against Mashal Khan as he had pointed out about mismanagement in the administrative affairs in the media.