Social media users demand justice for murdered blogger
BILAL’S FAMILY WANTS POLICE TO CONDUCT PROPER INQUIRY AND ENSURE JUSTICE
Hours after 22-yearold Muhammad Bilal Khan, a blogger and social media activist, was killed, many Pakistanis took to social media to express outrage and demand justice for the young victim.
Bilal Khan was attacked on June 16 in the G-9 area of Islamabad with his uncle Ehtesham, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Saddar Malek Naeem. Khan was killed and his uncle was severely injured and is hospitalised. The medical report says that Bilal’s body carried around 17 wounds on different parts of body inflicted with a sharp object. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered in which the family has demanded the “immediate arrest” of the culprits.
As much as the activist’s death is a heartbreaking tragedy for the family, it has also devastated hundreds of social media users who are demanding justice and
■ proper investigation sharing tons of photos and videos of the blogger. Khan who had more than 19,000 followers on Twitter, over 50,000 on YouTube channel, and more than 28,000 on Facebook, was known for his radical Islamist views.
“We demand to arrest the culprits as soon as possible to provide justice to the deceased family” a social media user, Araib Ali Baig, tweeted with the hashtag #Justice4MuhammadBilalKhan.
“Bilal was a young, articulate and bold man. We spoke many times always being on the opposite ends of the spectrum. May God bless his soul and give his family courage” wrote Pakistani human rights activist Jibran Nasir.
‘Life cut short’
Many users who differed with the activist’s radical views also demanded timely action from police saying “we may disagree but silencing is not an option.” Journalist Bilal Farooqi said: “He definitely didn’t agree with my views and he had every right not to do so. He had yet to learn so much and it’s sad to see this SCAN ME Scan the code to find out how Thai blogger fell in love with Pakistani street food
young man’s life cut short.” Reacting to the groundless arguments and presumptions on social media about the killers of Bilal Khan, his brother Komail Ahmad posted a video on Facebook urging people to let the police do their job and refrain from spreading false information. “It’s painful and shocking to see baseless propaganda on the killing of Bilal before his funeral prayers.” Sharing the family’s official statement, Komail clarified: “Bilal had no personal or family enmity with anyone and we have no one to blame yet.” He said: “We trust Islamabad police, but also demand them to properly investigate the case to ensure justice.”
Bilal’s brother and supporters have rejected accusations that linked the blogger’s death to some state organisations.