They took away our light

The horrifying incident at the Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan shocked the entire nation. What was more heartrending was the fact that a few people who came forward to save the young student couldn’t do so because of the violent mob. No one could muster the courage to stop those students who were brutally beating Mashal Khan. This is not only a violation of law, but a failure of humanity. It is surprising that in the middle of such a bloodcurdling incident, students were making videos of the horrific incident. This has touched new heights of brutality and cruelty. Mashal was killed on the false allegations of blasphemy. A bright student was murdered in the name of religion. A young mind that had just started experiencing the world was brutally silenced. The irony is that Mashal’s murder – committed in the name of religion – is just the opposite of the teachings of Islam.

Mashal’s Facebook profile reveals that the young student was full of dreams. He had the urge to talk and do something about all the wrongs in our society. His few Facebook posts endorse his intelligence. It is sad to see that his old parents have lost their son. If only conspiracies were kept out of education institutions. It is a relief that the case is being thoroughly investigated and it is now in the court of law. It is hoped that justice will prevail. For Mashal, we should stand united against the extremism in our country.

Khalid Faruqi

Karachi

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The gruesome murder of Mashal Khan, a 23-year-old student of Journalism, left the entire nation in deep agony and shock. The victim was lynched by a violent and intolerant mob. The harrowing details of Mashal’s murder had highlighted a few things. First, the incident happened at a place which is tasked with producing nation-builders. If such educated and enlightened individuals will opt for irrational, bestial and vigilante justice, what will we expect from illiterate and ignorant people? Second, according to some media reports, the charges of blasphemy levelled against Mashal Khan were unfounded. This revelation makes matters much complicated. It is out-and-out a mockery of law. Third, the incident unveils a shocking fact that in our country on the pretext of false allegations of blasphemy, one can settle – quite easily and conveniently – one’s grudges against anyone.

Taking the law in one’s hands is a crime as well and one that should be condemned at all levels. We have already been dubbed as an intolerant and bigot society by the world and such ghastly acts will prove this assertion right. In this regard our religious clerics can play a cameo role to tone down the extremist narrative which is subverting our image across the globe. This present incident calls for promoting the culture of ‘to hate the sin and not the sinner’ to avoid such incidents in the future.

Muhammad Fayyaz

Mianwali

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The murder of a university student in Mardan over unproven blasphemy charges speaks volumes of intolerance, vigilantism, and absence of rule of law that has permeated into every sphere of our society including education institutions. Mashal Khan’s murder highlights how the ‘mob-justice system’ misuses the blasphemy law for some ulterior motives. The involvement of university employees and administration in the brutal killing of the student shows that the issue is far beyond the blasphemy charges. The Abdul-Wali Khan University was without a vice chancellor for the past few weeks and there was an atmosphere of uncertainty in the university. Mashal had criticised the university’s administration in an interview given to a local news channel.

On the day of Mashal Khan’s murder, students ransacked the university’s offices. The university’s administration also released a notification suspending three students – Mashal and his two friends – without any proof of blasphemy against them. There were some hidden hands that were supporting the unjust student’s protest. The government must take a serious notice of the incident. Accounts on social media of all university employees must be carried out in the judicial inquiry and those found involved in inciting the ‘mob-justice’ must be brought to books.

M Sayyad Alam Khan

Peshawar