Mashal Khan’s death anniversary State urged to punish culprits

SWABI: Speakers observing the death anniversary of Mashal Khan here on Sunday said that it was responsibility of the state to punish those who were directly or indirectly involved in his brutal killing.

Politicians belonging to different political parties, members of various welfare bodies, writers and intellectual attended the gathering. Slogans were repeatedly raised and it was unanimously demanded that justice should be provided to Mashal Khan's family.

Mashal Khan, who belonged to Zaida town in the district, was student of Journalism Department of Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan. He was lynched to death by a mob after being accused of blasphemy on April 13, 2017.

Participants said that Mashal Khan fell prey to a conspiracy hatched against him by student leaders and university employees but the joint investigation team (JIT)'s report revealed that allegations made against him were baseless.

Salim Khan, former provincial general secretary of Awami National Party (ANP), said that Mashal Khan's father had not received the JIT's report till date due to unknown reasons. "The JIT report should be made public," he demanded.

PPP Peshawar division's former president Liaquat Shabab said, "We have to change our approach and those who want to malign our religion must be stopped. We should avoid using religion for achieving our own objectives. Our religion preaches peace and brotherhood," he stressed.

Aamir Sajjad, Awami Workers Party Punjab president, said that the provision of justice should be dispensed to Mashal Khan's family. He said providing security to his family was responsibility of the government and no lame excuse in this connection would be acceptable.

Maha Baloch, a female activist, said that Mashal Khan's crime was that he had exposed the corruption at Abdul Wali Khan University and that was the reason he was targeted under a conspiracy.