Islamabad (Staff Report): The Supreme Court will begin hearing a suo moto case on Wednesday, pertaining to the horrific lynching of Mardan University student Mashal Khan on suspicion of alleged ‘blasphemy’.
Mashal Khan, 23-year-old, a journalism student, was stripped, beaten, shot, and thrown from the second floor of his hostel by a violent mob at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM) campus premises on April 13 over blasphemy allegations.
24 suspects have been arrested so far while 19 have been presented in court. The university has also suspended seven of its employees for alleged involvement in Mashal's murder.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan spoke against the gruesome act first. Condemning the murder of Mashal Khan, the PTI chief called for firm action against all those responsible. He termed Mashal's murder a conspiracy and said blasphemy was used as an excuse to target the student.
One of the survivors of the lynching, Abdullah, recorded his statement and rejected all allegations against him and Mashal Khan.
In his statement, Abdullah said that prior to the murder of Mashal Khan, the administration of the university was ‘deadly’ against him because he was critical of loopholes in the system.
Abdullah has reportedly placed responsibility of the incident on the university administration.
