One more suspect arrested in Mashal lynching case

The 23-year-old student of journalism at AWKU was shot dead and brutally lynched on campus last year

MARDAN: Another suspect allegedly involved in the murder of Mashal Khan, the Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM) student who was lynched in April over blasphemy allegations, have been arrested on Thursday.

Izhar alias Jonny. PHOTO: EXPRESS

According to the District Police Officer (DPO) Mardan Mian Saeed, Izhar alias Jonny was apprehended in the Saddar area of Mardan while an Ak47 was also recovered from his possession.

At least 61 people have been accused in the case out of which a total number of 58 have so far been on trial. Meanwhile, three of the accused are still at large, said the DPO.



Mashal, a 23-year-old student of journalism at AWKU was brutally lynched and then shot dead on campus on April 13 last year after accusations of blasphemy against him grew.

Videos of the gruesome incident show agitated students stomping on Mashal’s lifeless, blood-soaked body and hitting him with sticks. More videos that have surfaced since show a local PTI councillor Arif Mardan congratulating the students for killing Mashal and urging them to pledge not to reveal the identity of Mashal’s shooter.

The gruesome lynching captured by students on their mobile cameras and circulated on social media sparked a nationwide uproar, forcing the government to order a judicial inquiry into the sickening incident.