Social activists demand action over student lynching

Strongly condemn incident which claimed Mashal Khan’s life

LAHORE: The government should take stern action those who lynched a student at the Wali Khan University in Mardan, stressed the National Commission for Justice and Peace, a human rights organisation of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference. It strongly condemned the incident which claimed the life of Mashal Khan who was accused of committing blasphemy.

NCJP Chairperson Dr Joseph Arshad, Fr National Director Emmanuel Yousaf Mani and Executive Director Cecil Shane Chaudhry said, in a joint statement, that such violence and barbaric behaviour is unacceptable.



“In the presence of laws, no one should be allowed to take matters into their hands. Furthermore, hate and discriminatory material should be removed from all textbooks if we want to create a peaceful and tolerant society,” the statement said.

“A university should develop thinking minds which can accept and value the opinion of others despite their faith or belief. We need to teach our young students the virtues of tolerance, coexistence and acceptance. We need to teach the youth about the importance of justice and law and order.”

The statement continued that every form of street violence should be discouraged. It stressed the government must take necessary action to provide not just safety and security for brilliant young minds, but also to ensure quality education. They stated NCJP and the Catholic Church pleaded with the government of Pakistan to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2017.