JIT report on Mashal lynching still to be implemented

MARDAN: Though the joint investigation team (JIT) that probed the Mashal Khan lynching incident submitted its report more than one month ago, neither the police nor the administration of the Abdul Wali Khan University has acted on its recommendations yet.

It may be noted that on April 13, a mob of students and employees of the Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan lynched Mashal Khan, a student of the Journalism and Mass Communication Department, after accusing him of blasphemy.

Later, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar took suo moto notice of the incident and ordered the formation of the 13-member JIT to probe the case. The JIT submitted its report on June 3.

 In its report, the JIT exposed the incompetence of the university administration, failure of the police and the presence of criminal mindset in the ranks of the Pakhtun Students Federation (PkSF).

According to the JIT report, Mashal Khan, a six-semester student of journalism aware of matters pertaining to students' rights and university administration, used to speak openly about the administrative problems and other issues in the university.

Days before his brutal murder, he set up a protest camp outside the university to press the government for early resolution of various problems at the university, including appointment of the new vice-chancellor.

The JIT in its report clearly mentioned that scores of employees of the university had criminal record in the past. It was also suggested in the report that strict departmental action should be taken against Registrar Sher Alam Khan, Director Administration Pir Asfandyar, Security Officer Himayatullah Afridi, Provost Fayyaz Ali Shah, Chief Procter Idrees Khan, Director Sports Farooq Khan and Assistant Registrar Humayun for their incompetence.  The JIT also suggested that the record of all the employees should be scrutinised.

Sources in the university added that a lot of irregularities were made in the admission procedure, especially in the Journalism and Mass Communication Department in the first batch.  The sources said government officials were admitted in the department in violation of rules as some of them had fake credentials.

The provincial government appointed Dr Jahanzeb Khalil as pro-vice chancellor of the university after the lynching incident. Sources said the government had tasked him to set things in order and act on the recommendations of the JIT.

Dr Jahanzeb Khalil has made some changes in the administration, but has yet to implement the JIT recommendations. Though two inquiry committees are working to suggest further action on the basis of the JIT report, the slow progress has frustrated those seeking justice for Mashal Khan.

It may be noted that JIT had also questioned the role of the police officials during Mashal Khan lynching case and recommended departmental inquiry against the policemen who were present on the occasion and reportedly didn't act to save Mashal Khan.

However, the parents of the suspects arrested in connection with the Mashal Khan lynching case, the Pakhtun Students Federation and religious parties in Mardan rejected the report and declared it one-sided.