Pakistan

PPP serves notices to three K-P leaders over rallying for Mashal's 'murderers'

Rally organised by Muttahida Ulema Council in Mardan had demanded the release of suspects held for Mashal's lynching

Hidayat Khan May 03, 2017

Journalism student Mashal Khan was shot and brutally lynched on campus on April 13. PHOTO COURTESY: FACEBOOK

PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) issued on Wednesday show-cause notices to its three leaders in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for participating in a rally demanding the release of the suspects held for student Mashal Khan’s brutal lynching.

Ikramullah Shahid, a senior politician from Mardan District and former K-P Assembly deputy speaker, and two others, Asad Kashmiri and Abid Ali Shah, were issued the notices for participating in the rally organised by the Muttahida Ulema Council near the district administration’s office in Mardan on April 28.

“They have violated the party's policy,” PPP K-P chapter’s General Secretary Faisal Karim Kundi told The Express Tribune. “Our party's position is clear on Mashal Khan's brutal killing,” he added.

The notices, signed by Kundi, read: “It has been brought to the knowledge of this office that following the brutal murder of Mashal Khan at Mardan University, you have participated in a rally held in favour of this heinous crime. As you are well aware, your act is in direct violation of the party’s discipline. You are therefore given 7 days to respond to this notice and clarify your position."

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— Aseefa B Zardari (@AseefaBZ) May 3, 2017

They clerics participating in the rally claimed that the murder suspects were true Muslims because they had “fulfilled their religious duties” and demanded that they be set free.

Former K-P speaker, others lead rally demanding release of Mardan lynching suspects

The rally began at Pakistan Square and its participants urged traders to show their love for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) by shutting their shops and joining the march. Within 10 minutes, all major markets were closed and shopkeepers were seen joining in.

More than 8,000 people reportedly participated in the rally.

Mashal, a 23-year-old student of journalism at the Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, was lynched and shot on April 13 by a mob of fellow students accusing him of committing blasphemy.