Mashal Khan A Victim of Lynching due to Blasphemy;

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MASHAL KHAN
A VICTIM OF LYNCHING DUE TO BLASPHEMY BY MOB
Authors
Muhammad Umar Farooq (2015-IM-07)
Muhammad Yasir Ilyas (2015-IM-08)
Mahnoor Javaid (2015-IM-12)
Abdal Khan (2015-IM-21)
Muhammad Usman (2015-IM-42)
UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, LAHORE
DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL & MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING
MAY 2017

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Letter of Authorization
Mehvish Riaz
Assistant Professor, Department of Humanities,
UET Lahore
Mr. Muhammad Umar Farooq
Sophomore in Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering,
UET Lahore.
Room No. 122, ASE Hall, UET Lahore
Subject: Permission for Writing a Report & Conducting Survey for Research Purpose
Dear,
I, Mehvish, am writing to indicate that I authorize Mr. Umar and his group members to
write a report on “Mashal Khan – A Victim of Lynching due to Blasphemy by Mob” and I
allow them to do a general survey to gather the views of public about this incident.
I appreciate you and your group’s assistance in this report.
Best,
Mehvish Riaz
April 24, 2017
CC: Muhammad Yasir Ilyas (2015-IM-08)
Mahnoor Javaid (2015-IM-12)
Abdal Khan (2015-IM-21)
Muhammad Usman (2015-IM-42)

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DISCLAIMER
Mention of name of any person, product, company, photographs and snapshots do not
constitute endorsement by writers of this report. The content of this report is based on
information gathered in good faith from both primary and secondary sources and is believed to
be correct at the time of publication. Evolution insights can however provide no guarantee
regarding the accuracy of this content and therefore accepts no liability what so ever for any
actions taken that subsequently prove incorrect.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We wish to especially acknowledge the efforts of Muhammad Umar Farooq, sophomore of
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering in University of Engineering and Technology,
Lahore Pakistan, who served as editor and consultant in the preparation of document.
The comments & reviews provided by others, we are gratefully acknowledged. They include
GEO NEWS, DAWN NEWS, FACEBOOK and Government of Pakistan. We also extend our
appreciation to different authors who shared their point of view.
We sincerely appreciate the encouragement and support of Dr. Mehvish Riaz, Assistant
Professor, Department of Humanities and the Modern Languages, University of Engineering
& Technology, Lahore.

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Table of Contents:
Letter of Authorization ...................................................................................................................... iii
DISCLAIMER........................................................................................................................................ iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT........................................................................................................................ iv
Table of Contents:................................................................................................................................... v
List of Figures:.................................................................................................................................... vi
List of Tables: ..................................................................................................................................... vi
Abstract................................................................................................................................................. vii
1. Introduction: ...................................................................................................................................8
1.1 Biography:...............................................................................................................................8
2. Incident: ..........................................................................................................................................8
2.1 Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM): ..........................................................................8
2.2 Vice Chancellor Issue: ...................................................................................................................8
2.3 Mashal Khan & University Administration:...................................................................................9
3. Mashal Khan & Social Media: .........................................................................................................9
4. Mob & Murder:.............................................................................................................................11
5. Social Media Activist & NEWS Reaction:.......................................................................................12
6. Mashal Khan Funeral: ...................................................................................................................13
7. Islamic Republic of Pakistan Constitution regarding Blasphemy:.................................................14
8. Similar Kind of Happenings in History:..........................................................................................16
9. Survey Results:..............................................................................................................................16
10. Investigation by Police and Proceedings by Court:...................................................................17
11. Arrests:......................................................................................................................................17
12. Reactions:..................................................................................................................................18
12.1 Government:.............................................................................................................................18
12.2 Individuals:................................................................................................................................19
12.3 Public:........................................................................................................................................19
12.4 Facebook:..................................................................................................................................20
12.5 Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA):.........................................................................20
13. Conclusion:................................................................................................................................20
13.1 Suggestions: ..............................................................................................................................20
References ............................................................................................................................................20
Survey Results:..................................................................................................................................23

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List of Figures:
Figure 1 - This was stanza by Asad Ullah Khan Galib(A famous poet of Urdu literature).......................9
Figure 2-He preached humanity rather than Islam or any other religion. ...........................................10
Figure 3- Being humanist was more to him rather that being a so called Muslim...............................10
Figure 4 -There is confliction. Snapshots took by people and got viral, were processed. ...................11
List of Tables:
Table 1 - Constitution of Islami Republic Pakistan……………………………………………………………………………15
Table 2 - List of arrested suspects……………………………………………………………………………………………………18

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Abstract
Mashal Khan(late), a student of Mass Communication from Abdul Wali Khan University,
Mardan was pathetically lynched by mob. Mashal was culprit or not, nobody tried to cross
check the information. This report comments on his initial life, main factors leading him
to death and taking law in hand by mob. Court proceedings proved that there was no
evidence of blasphemy from his side. Killer had his personal clashes with him. He
publicized wrong news among students that urged mob. This is sadistic part of many
stories in Pakistan. People become over conscious and over possessive about sensitive
parts of religion Islam, without fulfilling the essential parts of Iman by themselves. Limits
and conditions are valid for others not for themselves. Reactions of many officials have
also been discussed regarding this matter. This report concludes that there should be
proper knowledge about sensitive parts of Islam among general people.

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1. Introduction:
1.1Biography:
Mashal Khan completed his college in the Institute of Computer and Management
Sciences on a scholarship, did well in exams and scored good marks. Later on received
another scholarship to study in a Russian University where he took engineering as his major
study field. Where he studied engineering for one year. He then returned to Pakistan
without completing his studies due to the family's limited financial resources. Upon
returning to Pakistan, he enrolled in the department of journalism at Abdul Wali Khan
University Mardan and was planning to do Master’s in mass media and journalism as well
as he was also preparing for his civil services exams.
His father told DAWN that "Mashal was very passionate about his studies. He used to study
for 15 hours a day. He believed education could become a source of great strength. Mashal
used to encourage his brothers and sister to study as well. He was a peaceful, tolerant
person." [1] Mashal was a Pashto poet. He had one brother and two sisters and was 23 years
old at the time of his murder. Geo News reported that his teacher told "“Mashal was a
humanist, he was into socialism and Sufism.” A teacher described Khan as a passionate
and critical student. "He was brilliant and inquisitive, always complaining about the
political system of the country, but I never heard him saying anything controversial against
the religion."
2. Incident:
2.1 Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM):
Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan (Urdu: ‫مردان‬ ‫خان‬ ‫الولی‬ ‫عبد‬ ‫)جامعہ‬ or AWKUM, is a
public university located in Mardan, Pakistan. Established in April 2009, the university is
named after Abdul Wali Khan, a prominent personality of Pashtunkhwa and has forty-nine
institutions affiliated to it. [2]
2.2 Vice Chancellor Issue:
Activists of PTI’s student wing Insaf Students Federation (ISF) protested against the vice
chancellor of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM) on Tuesday, March 18,
2015 accusing him of favoritism and demanding the termination of his services. Chanting
slogans against VC Ihsan Ali, scores of AWKUM students accompanied by a professor
of Mardan Postgraduate College gathered at Nowshera-Mardan Road and blocked it for
over five hours.
According to the protesters, the VC allegedly violated merit by choosing people he
preferred for faculty scholarships in foreign universities even though they were not
eligible for the grant. After a short period, VC Ihsan Ali retired and university
administration asked government to appoint new VC, as university had begun to face
problems in administration and lynching of Mashal was one example of this. They
appointed acting VC who was unable to handle all the administration matters.

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2.3 Mashal Khan & University Administration:
Before his death, Mashal Khan criticized the Abdul Wali Khan University but none of his
comments were religious or contained blasphemy. He revealed that the vice-chancellor of
the university never showed up and students were forced to live a life in oblivion, degrees
for graduates haven't been awarded leaving the graduate students on a cliffhanger. He
criticized teachers and accused them of bureaucracy and how a single faculty member was
in charge of multiple positions. According to him "everyone in authority is a thief here.”
The way the university collecting outstanding dues were also criticized as it charged a
staggering Rs. 25,000 from students while other universities collected only an amount of
Rs.5000.
3. Mashal Khan & Social Media:
Mashal Khan was very active on Facebook, social media. He commented on this ridiculous
system of Pakistan where a general man had not been able to buy one-time meal. On the
other hand, there were some comments and a number of posts got viral on Facebook,
where some of his fellows also commented and discussed the matter. Some snapshots
are mentioned below
Figure 1 - This was stanza by Asad Ullah Khan Galib(A famous poet of Urdu literature)

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Figure 2-He preached humanity rather than Islam or any other religion.
Figure 3- Being humanist was more to him rather that being a so called Muslim.
He had also made a facebook page named Mashal Yousafzai-Voice of the Voiceless.
Where he posted interviews of some children who work to earn their livelihood. He always
posted about humanity and saving the humanity. He believed in humanity more rather
than God. But there was another post updated by him that a fake account had been made
on social media to disrespect him in the society. After few days, he was lynched by mob.

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Figure 4 -There is confliction. Snapshots took by people and got viral, were processed.
4. Mob & Murder:
On 13 April 2017, the assistant registrar posted an official notice on the online board
announcing that three students where under probe for blasphemous activities, and had
been suspended:
"I am directed to notify that the following Inquiry Committee has been constituted to
probe into the matter of blasphemous activities carried by the students of Department of
Journalism namely, Mr. Abdullah, Mr. Mashal and Mr. Zubair. Further, the mentioned
students are hereby rusticated and their entry into the premises of the University (all
campuses) is banned until further orders" -- April 13, 2017. Assistant Registrar, Abdul Wali
Khan University Mardan [3]
A large group of students formed into a mob, accusing these students of running a
Facebook page where Mashal was allegedly publishing blasphemous material. Mashal was
killed inside the premises of the Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan where he was a
student of mass communication. Khan's death was filmed through mobile phones and was
shared on social media. At least 25 policemen were present in the university premises
when Khan was killed.
He was in the hostel of the university, when he was stripped naked and severely beaten
by a group of students and then shot. He succumbed to his injuries. Graphic video footage
of the lynching showed Khan was lying on the floor; his body bore marks of severe torture
and was not moving. The mob was seen kicking his lifeless body and beating it with

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wooden planks. He was also thrown from the second floor of the building. Several more
videos emerged later which showed him alive and the mob mercilessly attacking him.
Deputy Inspector General of Police said the mob wanted to burn the body of Khan after
he was dead. It was reported that some leaders of the student body were part of the mob
that attacked Khan. A senior police officer said "Hundreds of people were involved and
Khan was badly tortured after being shot at a close range. He was beaten with sticks,
bricks and hands." [4] An eyewitness at the scene of the incident said Khan was attacked
because he was believed to be promoting the Ahmadi faith on Facebook. Reports saying
university administrator and several leaders of the university's student body were part of
the attacking mob. An unknown official at the university said "Khan was disliked by other
students for his liberal and secular views."
At least 20 police officers were present at the scene, but they were unable to control the
situation. The university campus was shut down following his death and the hostels were
vacated to avoid a further escalation of violence.
5. Social Media Activist & NEWS Reaction:
Let me say it today in clear terms on how we have created a society where students
become murderers: Generals who polluted young minds and weaponized religion for
violent means and criminal ends and all those Generals who decided to remain quiet and
let it happen. Politicians and parties like Capt Safdar, Siraj ul Haq, Pir Hasnat Shah, Nasir
Chatta, Sunni Tehreek who sing praises of Mumtaz Qadri and all politicians who chose to
remain silent and let it happen. Mainstream parties like PMLN, PPP and PTI who patronize
terror outfits and form electoral alliances with them giving them space to spread their
narrative and all their members who chose not to stand up to their party leadership and
let it happen. Rogue Clerics like Ashraf Jalali, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, Pir Afzal Qadri and
Abdul Aziz who release sermons online reaching millions promoting extra judicial murder
as punishment for blasphemy and using blasphemy allegations for personal gains and all
those clerics who chose to remain silent and let it happen. Anchors like Amir Liaquat, Sabir
Shakir, Sami Ibrahim, Arif Hameed Bhatti, Haroon Rasheed and Orya Maqbool Jan who
threw around blasphemy allegations to either settle personal scores or malign opponents
and all those journalists who chose to remain silent and let it happen. Judges likes Justice
Shaukat Siddiqui who declared blasphemers as terrorists but refuse to declare Mumtaz
Qadri a terrorist for killing an innocent on false blasphemy charges and the rest of
Judiciary and lawyers who remained silent and let it happen (hold me in contempt but I
will call you out on your injustice). [5]
All most every news channel regret this incident. Many have done talk shows discussing
this topic with his father. Imran Khan, whose party heads the KP government, has rightly
condemned Mashal Khan’s lynching, vowing to resist “the law of the jungle”. He is,

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shameful enough, so far among the few politicians to have taken such an unequivocal
stance. Even most of the electronic media, otherwise so loquacious, has only covered
Mashal Khan’s murder in a superficial manner, carefully avoiding the real issues that
underpin the tragedy. Until these are debated, and the contradictions in society
acknowledged, our descent into a dystopian nightmare will continue.
How did it come to this? Such poverty of political imagination among students was not
always the norm. From the 1950s to the 1980s, Pakistani students were not a rag-tag mob
but a collective, organised force to be reckoned with. They stood up to exclusionary
education policies, organised strikes in support of organised labour and formed the core
of the movement that brought down the dictatorship of Ayub Khan in 1969. Campuses in
the 60s and 70s were rife with healthy ideological contestation between Left and Right,
with progressive groups like the Democratic Students Federation (DSF) and National
Students Federation (NSF) often electorally ascendant over their right-wing counterparts.
At the zenith of student politics in the 1970s, student power could be gauged from the
presence of union representatives in all university decision-making bodies through
legislation that mandated student consent for university policies. Some student radicals
even got elected to Parliament, like the NSF socialist Mairaj Muhammad Khan, who won
on a PPP ticket from Karachi and became Labor Minister under Bhutto in 1971 (eventually
resigning after 2 years once Bhutto began to renege on his socialist pledges). The writer
(Ammar Rashid) is an independent researcher based in Islamabad and a member of the
Awami Workers Party.
“The United Nations family in Pakistan shares the shock of heinous lynching of the student
of Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan,” said United Nations Resident Coordinator in
Pakistan Neil Buhne. “We are especially saddened that this happened in a place of
education and done by young people who were his fellow students,” he said. “The
brutality of their actions is a discredit to the millions of students in Pakistan who have
been working for a better future in the principles of tolerance and social justice which is
central to Pakistan’s constitution and the United Nations,” he added.
“Our thoughts today remain with the victims and their families. We urge the authorities
to take firm action and bring the perpetuators to speedy justice. Pakistan has strong legal
institutions and it is unacceptable for anyone to take the law into their own hands,” said
Buhne. [6]
6. Mashal Khan Funeral:
On the following day (April 14), Mashal Khan’s funeral were led by his father, a local poet.
Most neighbors kept away from the funeral, threats being made earlier by a local to
anyone attending, neighbors feared follow-up attacks from religious mobs. Few elder

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nevertheless joined, calling over neighbors to show supports. A few dozen people
eventually joined the procession. In following days, as information and national support
emerged, neighbors expressed regret for not being able to protect Mashal nor supporting
further the Khans on the funeral day. After the imam at a local mosque in Zaida refused
to lead Mashal Khan's funeral prayers and locals refused to attend his funeral, Sherin Yar,
a resident of a nearby village, stepped forward prepared to perform the last rites "no
matter what the cost." Appearing on DawnNews' 'Newswise' programme on Friday,
Sherin recalled that an imam in the village had told locals that anyone who led Mashal's
funeral prayers or participated in the funeral will be considered an apostate. Sherin, a
close friend of Mashal Khan's father, helped organise the funeral. On the day of the
funeral, he travelled 18 kilometers to Zaida, prepared to lead the funeral prayers if no one
else was willing to do so. He recalled that the situation in the village that day was "very
tense," adding that "no one was prepared to come to the funeral." "I told my friends that
I was coming and our aim was that the funeral rites are performed," he said. “In these
circumstances ... the accusation that was made [of committing blasphemy] ... people
make their own assumptions and think they are right," Sherin said. "I don’t agree with
this," he added. [7]
7. Islamic Republic of Pakistan Constitution regarding Blasphemy:
A few days ago, a video of erstwhile pop icon and widely heard Islamic evangelist, Junaid
Jamshed went viral on the Internet, in which his remarks were perceived as blasphemy
against the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his wife, Ayesha (RA). By the time of the
writing of this article, he has been charged under the Blasphemy Law (clause 295-C of the
Pakistan Penal Code). The clause reads 295-C – Use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect
of the Holy Prophet: Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible
representation or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly,
defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be
punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.
The law prescribes a fixed death penalty for all those who are found guilty. The option of
life imprisonment was made defunct after a 1991 Federal Shariat Court judgement.
Unfortunately, for Junaid Jamshed, the dominant religious narrative in the country holds
that blasphemy is an unpardonable offence. Simply put – you blaspheme, you die.
How could this possibly have happened? How could such a clearly stated position,
maintained for centuries, be so misinterpreted? In my pursuit of answers, I discovered
that in the 15th century a Hanafi scholar, Al-Bazzazzi, misquoted the Hanafi position on
pardon that had been established since the time of Abu Hanifa.
It is important to note that he was not offering an alternative stance; he meant to describe
the original position but erroneously ended up misrepresenting it entirely. It is baffling to

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consider how he could have strayed so far from the original position. Imam Ibn e Abidin,
one of the most revered scholars in South Asia, chancing upon his erroneous depiction,
was moved to write an impassioned critique of this divergent position – not only
explaining Bazzazzi’s error as a 'misreading of two important works' (Al Sarim-ul-Maslool
ala Shatim-ur-Rasool by Ibn Taymiyyah and Al Shifa by Qadi Iyad), but also summarily
dismissing the idea that blasphemy is unpardonable as “ridiculous”. [8]
Table 1 - Constitution of Islami Republic Pakistan
PPC Description Penalty
§ 298 Uttering of any word or making any sound or
making any gesture or placing of any object in
the sight with the deliberate intention of
wounding the religious feelings of any person.
1-year imprisonment, or fine,
or both
§ 298A Use of derogatory remarks etc., in respect of
holy personages. 1980
3 years’ imprisonment, or
fine, or both
§ 298B (Ahmadi blasphemy law) Misuse of epithets,
descriptions and titles etc., reserved for certain
holy personages or places, by Ahmadis. 26 April
1984
3 years’ imprisonment and
fine
§ 298C (Ahmadi blasphemy law) Aka Ordinance XX: f a
Muslim, or preaching or propagating his faith, or
"in any manner whatsoever" outraging the
religious feelings of Muslims, or posing himself
as a Muslim. 26 April 1984
3 years’ imprisonment and
fine
§ 295 Injuring or defiling places of worship, with intent
to insult the religion of any class
Up to 2 years’ imprisonment
or fine, or both
§ 298A Deliberate and malicious acts intended to
outrage religious feelings of any class by
insulting its religion or religious beliefs. 1927
Up to 10 years’
imprisonment, or fine, or
both
§ 298B Defiling, etc., of Quran. 1982 Imprisonment for life
§ 298C Use of derogatory remarks, spoken, written,
directly or indirectly, etc. defiles the name of
Muhammad 1986
Mandatory Death and fine
(Feb. 1990) [9]
Trial must take place in a
Court of Session with a
Muslim judge presiding.

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Any individual does not have any type of right of declaring someone that he/she has
committed blasphemy. There should be a procedure, not to take the rules in their own
hands but to convey the message to officials for further proceedings. Further-more mob
have not right to lynch anybody. There are proper rules like mentioned in constitutions.
8. Similar Kind of Happenings in History:
The three sisters who allegedly murdered on April 19, 2017 a man charged with
blasphemy said they did not regret killing him as, what they called, a punishment for
committing blasphemy 13 years ago. Suspects Amna, Afshan and Razia, who had been
sent to prison on two-week judicial remand in the murder case, showed no remorse for
the murder while recording their statement at the local police. Local police quoted the
sisters as saying that they did not regret killing Fazal Abbas Shah at his home in Nangal
Mirza Bajwa village, Pasrur tehsil. “No one had motivated us to kill [Shah] for blaspheming,
as we had heard in our childhood that the punishment for any blasphemer is only death,”
they told police. They said that hate for the Shah also increased as they grew up, which
resulted into the murder. “We killed him when we were able to kill him, as we could not
do it 13 years for being children at that time,” they added. The sisters had murdered Shah
after they learnt of his return from Denmark after 13 years. Pasrur Sadar police had
arrested them and registered a murder case. [10]
9. Survey Results:
A survey of general students was conducted online. Survey resulted that many people
were not familiar with the actual happening. And more than 60% people said that the
killing of Mashal was not justified. And more than 30% considered our country’s judicial
system was one factor of this happening. Courts & Military forces are being failed in
providing and maintaining peace among people. Still there is lack of education. More than
40% people have views that judiciary system is not helping people in finding the justice.
More than 40% concluded that committer of blasphemy should be awarded with death
penalty or imprisonment by law. No individual has right to declare the punishment of
someone. More than 50% were slightly aware of punishments of blasphemy in Islam.
About 70% considered this event as negative image of society on other communities.
[Results of survey are enclosure on the end of the report.]

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10. Investigation by Police and Proceedings by Court:
According to police investigations, Mashal Khan had not run any blasphemous action. The
Inspector General Police stated “We did not find any concrete evidence under which an
investigation or legal action can be launched against Mashal, Abdullah or Zubair”.
According to Abdullah, the AWK University's administration summoned him to the Mass
Communications’ chairman office, where they pressured him into accusing Mashal of
blasphemy. When Abdullah refused as "Neither Mashal nor I had committed any
blasphemy", the administration issued the online notification, then went to punish
Abdullah by beating and Mashal by lynching.
According to one of the prime accused Wajahat Ullah's testimony collected by the police,
15 to 20 persons were at the office of the chairman discussing the three students’
controversial views when he was called over by fellow student Mudassar Bashir, the
representative of the class. Lecturers Ziaullah Hamdard, Pir Asfandyar, clerks Anees,
Saeed and Idrees, superintendent Arshad were present and summoned him on the issue.
Class representative Mudassar Bashir asked him to become a witness of alleged
blasphemous, while clerk Idrees repeated his opposition to having a communist in AWK
University. The proposition of creating a comity to inquire was opposed by clerk Idrees
and class leader Bashir, while security in-charge Bilal Bakhsh declared his will to handle
the issue quickly, occasionally stating his will to kill the student. The group processed
toward Mashal’s hostel, calling for bystanders to join and turning the expedition into an
angry punitive mob.
11. Arrests:
On April 21, AWKUM's superintendent and office's assistant were imprisoned on judicial
remand. Some of the accuses are sent to Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC). Bilal Baksh, a
computer operator at the university, shouted slogans and called for a mob to build around
Mr. Khan and murder him. Two other suspect were deliver to ATC. On April 25, 2 other
suspects were handed over to ATC.
It was reported that the administration of the university through a notification dated 13
April 2017 rusticated Khan and decided to investigate Khan for alleged "blasphemous
activity". A provost of the university said the notification was issued after the death of
Khan.

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Arrested Status Accusation
Imran Ali (Student) ATC Shooted Mashal thrice, charged for
murder.
Afsar Khan (AWKUM
superintendent)
Bilal Baksh (AWKUM computer
operator)
Inciting a mob in order to
lynch/murder the victim
Bilal Bux (in-charge of security in
AWKUM)
ATC (identified on video)
Amir (Student) ATC (identified on video)
Ashfaq Khelji Hitting Mashal Khan in the head
with a flowerpot (identified on
video)
Fazal Rizaq ATC Desecrated Mashal’s corpse
(identified on video)
Table 2 - List of arrested suspects
The DPO Mardan noted that out of the 49 identified suspects, 47 had been arrested so
far. The two suspects who remain at large are believed to be hiding in tribal areas, he
added. Investigation teams have been formed for their arrests, while the coordination of
political agents in tribal areas has also been sought, Saeed said.
The arrests come a day after Mardan's Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police
Mohammad Alam Shinwari announced the arrest of a member of the lynch mob who had
shot Mashal Khan. The DIG said the man arrested was Mashal's class fellow and a student
in the university's journalism department. He added that the pistol with which Imran shot
Mashal had also been recovered and the suspected had "accepted his crime" during
investigation and interrogation. [11]
12. Reactions:
12.1 Government:
• Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif issued a condemnation of the lynching of Khan, saying
that "I am shocked and saddened by the senseless display of mob justice that
resulted in the murder of a young student, Mashal Khan, at Wali Khan University,
Mardan. The nation should stand united to condemn this crime and to promote
tolerance and rule of law in the society." He directing the police to arrest those
who were responsible and ordered action against them. [12]
• Members of the National Assembly of Pakistan passed a unanimous resolution to
condemn the murder of Khan. [13]
• Member of the Senate of Pakistan condemned the murder and suggested
amending the blasphemy law and punish those who make false blasphemy
accusations against others. [14]
• Member of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan condemn the murder of Khan.
[14]

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• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said no evidence had been
found to suggest Khan had committed blasphemy. A second senior police officer,
who requested anonymity, said many members of the police, prosecution service
and judiciary sympathized with the attackers and he did not expect any guilty
verdicts. [15]
• A senior police officer, who wanted to remain anonymous, said that "many
members of the police, prosecution service and judiciary sympathized with the
attackers and he did not expect any guilty verdicts." And that "there are hundreds
of sympathizers in my force and if I take too much interest in the case I might be
killed too." [16]
12.2 Individuals:
• Imran Khan was the first to issue condemnation and said that "The law of the jungle
can't prevail." and "even if Mashal Khan was accused of committing blasphemy, he
should have been given a right of defence." A day later, he said "I want to assure
parents of Khan that I will ensure justice for his death. Even if the culprits are found
to be from the PTI, they will be punished. We will not discriminate along party lines
in pursuing this case." [12] [13]
• Malala Yousafzai condemned the killing of Khan saying that “We have forgotten
our values. We are not representing the true Islam. “No one is maligning the name
of your country or religion…we ourselves are bringing a bad name to our country
and religion. If we will continue killing each other like this, then no one will be ever
safe.” [14]
• Saleh bin Abdul-Aziz Al ash-Sheikh who was present in Pakistan at the time of
incident, said "when it comes to accusing someone of blasphemy, there are two
types of people, those who are illiterate and those who misuse Islam for personal
gains. [15]
• Awami National Party (ANP) President Asfandyar Wali Khan said, "No culprit, no
matter who he is, should be spared from punishment. Even Hang my son if he is
involved in Mashal’s lynching. [16]
• Neighbors The residents of Mashal Khan’s native town, Zaida, gathered at the
grave of Mashal Khan and apologized to the deceased and his family for failing to
‘stand with them in crisis’. The villagers acknowledged that they made a mistake
by initially not standing with the family. The people later laid a wreath at the
student’s grave and offered fateha for him. They also staged a demonstration to
demand justice for the student’s family through punishment of killers and
accomplices. [17]
12.3 Public:
Following the murder of Khan, Protests were held in different part of Pakistan over the
murder of Khan. [18] A large number of people took to streets in Khan's village in Swabi.
DAWN reported that "It was probably for the first time that a large number of women
participated in a mourning procession in the area." [19]

20 | P a g e
12.4 Facebook:
Facebook has made an honorary profile of Mashal Khan to credit him. Facebook has
mentioned, “We hope that people who love Mashal will find comfort in visiting his profile
to remember and celebrate his life” on his profile. [20]
12.5 Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA):
PTA sent a general message to all telecommunication users, “Uploading and sharing of
any blasphemous content on Internet is a punishable offense under the law. Instead of
taking law in hand, such content should be reported to PTA on info https://pta.gov.pk
for legal action. Prove yourself a good citizen of Pakistan.”
13. Conclusion:
Investigations are going on, world is not changed, culprits are in prison and people are
making different stories, some in favor of Mashal and some against Mashal. But another
candle of a home has been triggered down. This hot issue will remain in headlines for a
month, after that nobody will be remembering him and this type of activities will not be
stopping. Most people of Pakistan are liberals, they pretend to be affected but in real they
are not. They are double standard people. Who will never be contributing in the
betterment of the society. They will always try to find flaws and negative side of every
incident.
13.1 Suggestions:
There must be proper learning mechanism and more open law for everybody of
blasphemy. PEMRA must ask TV channels to on-air the information regarding
blasphemous content to develop a sense of knowledge. Traditional Mullah should be
banned due to playing an important role in mind washing of people from backward areas
with their low and un authentic knowledge about Islam. People must be punished in front
of public if they had taken any law in their hand. Government must publish a notice that
nobody would be allowed to declare anyone non-Muslim, “if he/she is Muslim”.
References
[1] D. N. Journalist, "Dawn.com," Dawn News, 16 April 2017. [Online]. Available:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1327346. [Accessed 02 May 2017].
[2] "Web Page of AWKUM," [Online]. Available: http://www.awkum.edu.pk/. [Accessed 02 May
2017].
[3] R. Mackey, "The Intercept," The Intercept, 14 April 2017. [Online]. Available:
https://theintercept.com/2017/04/14/students-pakistani-university-lynch-classmate-falsely-
accused-blasphemy/. [Accessed 02 May 2017].
[4] "BBC News," BBC, 13 April 2017. [Online]. Available: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-
39593302. [Accessed 02 May 2017].

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[5] M. J. Nasir. [Online]. Available: http://twitter.com/MJibranNasir. [Accessed 02 May 2017].
[6] N. DESK, "Times of Islamabad," 15 April 2017. [Online]. Available:
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khan/2017/04/15/. [Accessed 02 May 2017].
[7] "WEB DESK DAWN NEWS," dawn.com, 24 April 2017. [Online]. Available:
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[Accessed 02 May 2017].
[9] "SECTION 295C PAKISTAN CRIMINAL CODE," [Online]. Available:
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[10] N. Correspondent, "Sisters say no regret for killing ‘blasphemer’," 22 April 2017. [Online].
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[12] "PM Nawaz Comments," Dawn News, 15 April 2017. [Online]. Available:
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murder-pm-nawaz. [Accessed 03 May 2017].
[13] M. Bilal, "NA unanimously condemns Mashal's murder," Dawn.com, 18 April 2017. [Online].
Available: https://www.dawn.com/news/1327743/na-unanimously-condemns-mashals-
murder. [Accessed 03 May 2017].
[14] I. A. Khan, "Senators call for amending blasphemy law," Dawn News, 18 April 2017. [Online].
Available: https://www.dawn.com/news/1327674/senators-call-for-amending-blasphemy-law.
[15] M. Ashfaq, "No evidence found to suggest Mashal Khan committed blasphemy: CM Khattak,"
Dawn, 15 April 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.dawn.com/news/1327151. [Accessed 03
May 2017].
[16] "No evidence to suggest Mashal Khan committed blasphemy: K-P IG," DAWN, 17 April 2017.
[Online]. Available: https://tribune.com.pk/story/1385975/no-evidence-suggest-mardan-
university-students-committed-blasphemy-k-p-ig/. [Accessed 03 May 2017].
[17] "Imran Khan's Words for Mashal Khan," 14 April 2017. [Online]. Available:
http://dailytimes.com.pk/pakistan/14-Apr-17/imran-khan-condemns-mashal-khans-murder.
[18] S. I. Raza, "COAS agreed to help hold fair polls: Imran," Dawn.com, 17 April 2017. [Online].
Available: https://www.dawn.com/news/1327683/coas-agreed-to-help-hold-fair-polls-imran.

22 | P a g e
[19] "Malala condemns Mashal Khan's murder," Tribune, 15 April 2017. [Online]. Available:
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1384391/bringing-bad-name-islam-malala-condemns-mashal-
khans-murder/. [Accessed 03 May 2017].
[20] "Dawn News," Dawn.com, 17 April 2017. [Online]. Available:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1327427/people-who-cast-blasphemy-accusations-need-to-be-
educated-says-imam-i-kaaba. [Accessed 03 May 2017].
[21] "The Express Tribune," Tribune, 18 April 2017. [Online]. Available:
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1386912/hang-son-involved-mashals-lynching-says-asfandyar-
wali/?amp=1. [Accessed 03 May 2017].
[22] M. Khan, "Neighbours apologise to Mashal's family for indifference," Dawn.com, 21 April 2017.
[Online]. Available: https://www.dawn.com/news/1328261/neighbours-apologise-to-mashals-
family-for-indifference. [Accessed 03 May 2017].
[23] "Hindustan Times," 15 April 2017. [Online]. Available: http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-
news/protests-in-pakistan-against-lynching-of-student-mashal-khan-accused-of-alleged-
blasphemy/story-8a48N4KCDoNlHPMK1y7UEI.html. [Accessed 03 May 2017].
[24] J. Hoti and M. Khan, "Men, women protest lynching, lay wreaths on Mashal’s grave,"
Dawn.com, 17 April 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.dawn.com/news/1327522/men-
women-protest-lynching-lay-wreaths-on-mashals-grave. [Accessed 03 May 2017].
[25] "Mashal Khan The Humanist," Facebook, 15 April 2017. [Online]. Available:
https://www.facebook.com/mashal.khan.1675275?ref=br_rs. [Accessed 03 May 2017].

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