Mashal Khan

Biography Khan completed his college in the Institute of Computer and Management Sciences on a scholarship and received good marks.

He then received a scholarship to study in a university in Russia where he studied engineering for one year. He then returned to Pakistan without completing his studies Upon returning to Pakistan, he enrolled in the department of journalism at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Geo News reported that his teacher told it "Mashal was a humanist, he was into socialism and Sufism". A teacher described Khan as an engaged and thoughtful 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."

Incident Background National politics and blasphemy In March 2017, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif supported a crackdown on blasphemous material posted on social media and described blasphemy as an "unpardonable offence".

Mashal Khan criticisms of AWK University's administrators 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 criticised as it charged students Rs. 25,000, while other universities only collected Rs. 5,000.

Mob and murder 13 April announcement, as published by the Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan The announcement was later modified and republished on 14 April, with a red "WITHDRAWN" stamp, the webpage was later deleted on 25 April. 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:

A large group of students formed into a mob, accusing these students of running a Facebook page where Mashal was allegedly publishing blasphemous material. 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 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.

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."

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 say a 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." Some elders nevertheless joined, calling over neighbours to show support and a few dozen people eventually joined the procession. Lecturers Ziaullah Hamdard and Pir Asfandyar, clerks Anees, Saeed and Idrees, and superintendent Arshad were present and summoned him on the issue. Class representative Mudassar Bashir asked him to become a witness of the alleged blasphemy, while clerk Idrees repeated his opposition to having a communist in AWK University. Some of the accused were sent to the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC). Two other suspect were delivered to ATC. On 25 April two 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.

Suleman

According to the report, the two prime inciters of the lynching were Sabir Mayer, president of the Pashtun Students Federation, and Ajmal Khan, president of the university's employee union. Ajmal confessed that a month before the lynching, Sabir, along with a university employee, Asad Katlang, came to his office and told him that they had to "get rid of Mashal" as he was a "threat to the party" (the 'party' is presumed to be the leftist political party, Awami National Party, whose student federation Sabir headed). The trio then proceeded to hatch a plan for Mashal's murder. Father of Mashal Khan expressed satisfaction with the Anti-Terrorism verdict. However, he claimed that he will challenge the acquittal of two suspects. He directed the police to arrest those who were responsible and ordered action against them. Members of the National Assembly of Pakistan passed a unanimous resolution to condemn the murder of Khan. Members of the Senate of Pakistan condemned the murder and suggested amending the blasphemy law to punish those who make false blasphemy accusations against others. Members of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan condemned the murder of Khan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said no evidence had been found to suggest Khan had committed blasphemy. A senior police officer, who wanted to remain anonymous, said that "many members of the police, prosecution service and judiciary sympathised with the attackers and he did not expect any guilty verdicts" and added that "there are hundreds of sympathisers in my force and if I take too much interest in the case I might be killed too".

Individuals Solidarity message from Pervez Hoodbhoy, Pakistani nuclear physicist, mathematician and activist to the International Conference in London, 22–24 July. Hoodbhoy speaks of Mashal Khan, lynched by a mob at his university, on accusations of blasphemy. Imran Khan also issued 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." 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." Sheikh Saleh Al-Talib 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. 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. Neighbours. The residents of Mashal Khan's native town, Zaida, gathered at the grave of Mashal Khan and apologised 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.

Public Following the murder of Khan, protests were held in different parts of Pakistan over the murder of Khan. 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." Progressive students and youth organized protests and public meetings against this brutal killing in many cities across the country. All these protests inside the country and solidarity campaign across the world demanded to put pressure on Pakistani State to take action against the murderers. Due to these protests many religious scholars had to announce Khan as a Martyr which shows the intensity of public outrage at this murder. On the 40th day after the death of Mashal Khan a public meeting was held in his village in which students and political activists participated in large numbers and asked for exemplary punishment of Mashal's killers. At this meeting which was attended by students of Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, Peshawar University and Malakand University among others was addressed by leaders of various political parties. At the end Khan's father Iqbal Khan addressed the meeting and said that, "Let's make the universities and other educational institutions so peaceful that in future no student falls prey to mob assault like my son."