Sharif: Nation must be united in condemning Mashal’s murder

islamabad — Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday strongly condemned the lynching of a university student in Mardan over allegations of blasphemy.

In a statement issued by PM office media wing, the prime minister urged the nation to stand united to condemn this crime and to promote tolerance and rule of law in the society.

Sharif said the perpetrators behind the murder of Mashal Khan should know that the state would not tolerate those who take the law in their own hands.

The prime minister expressed his shock and sadness over the senseless display of mob justice at the Wali Khan University, Mardan, that resulted in the murder of the young student. He said the police have been directed to apprehend those responsible.

“No father should have to send his child off to be educated with the fear of having him returned in a coffin,” the PM office media wing in a press release quoted the Prime Minister as saying.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Parvez Khattak has said that the reports had no evidence that he committed blasphemy. He said nobody should be allowed to take the law into their hands.

Protests led by civil society organisations were held in different parts of Pakistan to condemn the killing of Mashal Khan.

Demonstrations took place in Zaida village of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday as Mashal Khan was laid to rest, The News said.

In Peshawar, demonstrators chanted slogans against the university administration and police.

According to the protesters in Lahore, it was an unprecedented incident in the history of Pakhtuns. They demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.

Mashal Khan’s family insisted that he was innocent.

“I want justice as my son was innocent. I cannot even imagine that he will have committed blasphemy,” said Mohammed Iqbal, his father.

About 1,000 people, mostly relatives,

First they killed my son and now they are adding salt to our wounds. i want justice as my son was innocent. i cannot even imagine that he will have committed blasphemy Mohammed Iqbal, father of slain student

friends and co-villagers attended his funeral prayer at the main Eidgah in the village.

However, none of his fellow students or university officials attended the funeral.

His sister told the media that it was a “conspiracy against my brother and it must be unearthed”.

Meanwhile, Awami National Party (ANP) Mardan President Himayatullah Mayar urged his party members not to comment on the killing until the issue was probed. —