Weapons, drugs recovered from Mardan University

MARDAN: Weapons were recovered from the Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan as it was reopened for the first time since Mashal Khan a student at the university was lynched by a mob on accusations of blasphemy.

According to media report, guns, pistols and knives were recovered from the university as police conducted a search operation. Police conducted a search operation at the university’s hostel early Monday morning and recovered guns, pistols and knives. Drugs were also seized from the hostel.

The university was closed down and hostels were vacated to avoid further escalation of violence after the lynching incident. The university had remained closed for 40 days. A day earlier a gathering was held in Swabi to observe Mashal’s Chehlum. Members of civil society and leaders of political and religious parties present at a gathering called for giving exemplary punishment to the killers of Mashal.

Mardan police have so far arrested 53 suspects for involvement in Mashal Khan murder case including the key suspect Imran, who is suspected of having shot the student. However, police are yet to arrest Arif Khan a PTI councillor who was seen warning a crowd not to name Mashal Khan’s murderer after the student’s lynching.