Main accused in Mashal murder case confesses to his crime

Accuses university administration of involvement; 25 accused arrested so far; police chief says nothing blasphemous found in social media accounts; friend also denies blasphemy allegations

MARDAN: The main suspect in the Mashal murder case on Monday accused the university administration of asking him to give a statement against Mashal for blasphemy.

"I am ashamed of my statement against Mashal," Wajahat told a judicial magistrate court in his statement. He stated that the university administration called him to the chairman's office on April 13 and told him to give a statement against Mashal, Zubair and Abdullah. He further stated in his statement that at that time, lecturer Ziaullah, Asfandyar, Anis, superintendent Arshad, clerk Saeed, Idrees and 15 to 20 people were present in the chairman's office.

He stated that during that time, a large number of students had gathered and he delivered a speech to them that Mashal, Zubair and Abdullah had passed blasphemous remarks against the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). He added that Fahim Alam became a witness to his statement before the students. He added that he wasn't aware about the conspiracy against the three students.

He stated in his statement had he been aware of the conspiracy, he would not have come to the university on that come to the university on that day. He said that at that time, the security in-charge said anyone supporting Mashal would also be dealt with strictly. He stated that he was ashamed of his statement against Mashal.

Meanwhile, the local police arrested eight more people in Mashal's lynching case and the number of the arrested accused reached 25. Sources said that after the statement of Wajahat, police included security in-charge Inayat Afridi, Chief Proctor Muhammad Idrees and Director Administration Pir Asfandyar in the investigation.

  Javed Aziz Khan adds from Peshawar: Abdullah, a friend of Mashal who was also attacked by the mob on Thursday, recorded his statement before the court in which he termed the blasphemy allegations against him, Mashal and another friend completely baseless.

The entire country has been condemning the brutality that happened in a higher education institution. People have been visiting the house of Mashal Khan in Zaida village in Swabi district to offer condolences and express solidarity with his family.

"Police have been working round the clock in the case and so far 16 of the 20 accused persons mentioned in the first information report (FIR) have been arrested. Besides, 11 others have been identified through intelligence reports and interrogation and six of them have been rounded up," Inspector General Police (IGP) Salahuddin Khan Mehsud told a press conference in Peshawar.

The IGP informed that six of those rounded up are the employees of the university. He added that those already rounded up include some of the prime characters in the incident. He said for the police those involved are accused no matter what political affiliation they have.

"The Supreme Court of Pakistan has already taken suo motto notice on the matter. We are submitting our detailed report in the court on Tuesday (today)," said Salahuddin Mehsud who took over charge of the office two weeks back.

The KP police chief made it clear that the investigators could not find anything concrete from the social media accounts of Mashal Khan and two other persons accused of blasphemy.

"We have already sought the help of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in this regard to find out more about the social media accounts. There can be many edited things on social media that mostly appeared after the incident and that needs to be scientifically investigated," he explained.

He said that police had timely arrived at the administration block of the university to defuse the situation when they heard firing from the hostel, located around 900 meters from the offices. He claimed that when the cops reached the university Mashal Khan had been killed and his body was brought out of the hostel.

"The deputy superintendent of police and others managed to get custody of the body despite the fact that the mob was chasing the vehicle when the police were transporting it. We have probed the role of the police and they did their job. We will still check if any negligence is there," said the IGP.

The police chief was of the opinion that the meeting that was being held in the university regarding the issue must have been brought into the notice of the police. "Police should have been informed about the meeting to take care in case of any untoward incident," said Salahuddin Mehsud.

He said that Abdullah, who was also among the three students rusticated by the university on mere allegations of blasphemy, has recorded his statement under section 164 in the court.

Abdullah's statement that was later provided to the media said that he was called by a friend to come to the Journalism Department and when he arrived there the agitated students accused him, Mashal and Zubair of blasphemy.

Abdullah said that after he recited the Kalma and translated it into Urdu and English, he was pressured to give statement that Mashal Khan has committed blasphemy and has evil designs towards Islam.

"After I refused to do so, the students tortured me but the teachers and some friends managed to pull me out and shut me in the bathroom for my safety. The teachers who saved me had gathered at the office to resolve the issue but due to that act the mob gathered there," stated Abdullah.

"The university administration was against Mashal Khan who had pointed many loopholes in the institution and its affairs in an interview that he gave to a local TV channel two days back. Mashal had even boycotted the examination after some of those students who could not pay huge fees were stopped from sitting in the examination," stated Abdullah.

Abdullah said he was attacked by the mob even when he was inside the bathroom but the police managed to save him. He added that he can identify many of those who tortured Mashal and also those who trapped and attacked him.