Muslim Mob killed a University Student
Mashal Khan was a student at the Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Pakistan who was killed by an angry mob of muslims on the premises of the university on 13 April 2017, over allegations of posting blasphemous content online.
This is not the first time, Pakistan has been famous for a mob of muslims gathering and killing a person, burning, attacking minorities, burning their churches, and even burning humans alive for Islam. Here anybody who raises a voice against such cruelty is considered blasphemous, so those muslims who think it’s wrong to kill other humans, or who don’t follow islam are also considered blasphemous. Mashal’s father told DAWN that “Mashal was devoted to his studies and would study for 15 hours a day. He believed education was essential for a full life and encouraged his brother and sisters to study as well. His father added that Mashal was a “peaceful, tolerant person. So this peaceful student was attacked by his university fellows and by fellow muslims because he was a humanist.
Before his death Mashal Khan criticized the Abdul Wali Khan University but none of his comments mentioned religion or contained blasphemy. He revealed that the vice-chancellor never attended the university and students were forced to study in uncertainty of whether or not they would receive the degrees for which they were studying. He criticised teachers, accused them of bureaucracy and said that a single faculty member was in charge of multiple responsibilities. According to him “everyone in authority is a thief here.” The way the university collected outstanding dues was also criticized as it charged students Rs. 25,000, while other universities only collected Rs. 5,000. Because it’s easy to kill somebody by accusing him of blasphemy. The same pattern was adopted by the university faculty.
On 13 April 2017, the assistant registrar posted an official notice on the online board announcing that three students were under investigation 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.
— 13 April 2017. Assistant Registrar, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan
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. 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 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. 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. On the following day (14 April), Mashal Khan’s funeral was led by his father, a local poet. Most neighbours kept away from the funeral, as threats made earlier by a local to anyone attending led them to fear follow-up attacks from religious mobs.