Mashal’s father demands arrest of facilitators

Imran Khan assured he would not allow law of jungle to prevail but has taken no action yet, claims Iqbal Khan

ISLAMABAD: Muhammad Iqbal Khan, father of Mashal Khan who was brutally killed on the premises of Mardan’s Abdul Wali Khan University (AWKU) last month, on Friday, asked the police to question the university management over their alleged negligence.

He was speaking outside the Supreme Court as a three-member bench of the court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar, resumed the hearing of Mashal Khan's lynching case today.



The management of AWKU is actually responsible for Mashal’s murder, said Muhammad Iqbal Khan. He complained that the university management did not even register an FIR in the case.

“I do not have any faith in Mardan police who are issuing NOCs for staging rallies against Mashal,” said the grieved father.

Muhammad Iqbal Khan also demanded that along with the main culprits, the police also arrest facilitators who helped in Mashal’s killing.

Lauding the SC for taking suo moto notice of his son's case, Iqbal said, “My son cannot be brought back. Now I want justice for every Mashal Khan who lives in every house of Pakistan. If justice is served in this case, it will be good for the country.”

Mashal’s father also mentioned having met with Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan. During the meeting, he said, Imran told him that he would not allow the law of the jungle to prevail in the province. However, the government has not taken any action so far, he added.

Earlier, Mashal’s father wanted the killers of his son to be tried in a military court.



“I respect the notice taken by the chief justice, premier and civil society for the justice for my son, but I believe it was an act of militancy and the killers should be tried in military court,” Muhammad Iqbal Khan told The Express Tribune in an exclusive interview last month.

Mashal Khan, a student of Journalism and Mass Communication at AWKU, was shot dead on April 13 and then his body was desecrated by a mob of fellow students who accused him of committing blasphemy.