ISLAMABAD: A large number of civil society activists, politicians, students and citizens gathered outside the National Press Club on Saturday and protested the lynching of Mashal Khan.

They appealed to the government to ensure all the suspects involved are punished.

A student at the Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan, Khan was lynched by an angry mob on the university’s premises over blasphemy allegations on April 13.

The mob broke down the door to the university’s dormitories, dragged Khan out of his room, assaulted and killed him.

National and international media were also present at the press club to cover the protest, which was moderated by Kifayatullah, a friend of Khan’s and a student at the National Defence University.

Kifayatullah said he knew Khan would never get justice in “this Pakistan”, adding that sectarianism was deliberately perpetuated in 1953 in Pakistan, and people were not being killed in the name of Islam.

“Mashal was a Sufi, and that is why he used to think like liberal people. It is unfortunate that some segments are trying to give a message that Islam is a religion of killing people, although the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) spoke about nonviolence and gave a message of peace even to those who hurt him,” he said.

Another friend of the victim, Musa Khan, said the state was responsible for the incident and some anchors on electronic media were involved in spreading extremism, but no one takes action against them.

“This incident has shown that warmongers have won. All suspects should be arrested and I suggest that the case should be tried in the military courts, because the civil court can never decide this case,” he said.

PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar also spoke at the protest, saying: “We need to protest the incident and voice should be raised at the floor of the parliament. Unfortunately, in this country, blasphemy is being used to take revenge. There is law about blasphemy so a group or mob cannot take the law in their hands,” he said.

Activist Naseer Memon said Khan’s was not an ordinary murder but a test for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, judiciary and particularly the political parties who are silent on these kinds of issues.

National Party Punjab president Ayub Malik said the incident has shown that Pakistan is in the same situation as 15th century Europe. “We have to decide that if we want to become a developed nation or not. The state should not have any role in religion. Seminaries should be nationalised and they should be taught science. Moreover, religious organizations should be banned in educational institutions,” he said.

Islamabad resident Amjad Ali Khan said at the protest that he would begin a hunger strike before the NPC if the SC does not take suo motu notice within a week.

Protesters chant slogans against PTI during party leader’s speech

A speech by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Shireen Mazari triggered anger among the protestors, leading to a scuffle among students and a division of the crowd into two groups – both of which continued to condemn the murder and blamed state policies for such incidents.

Ms Mazari said in her speech that as long as the state does not adopt strict policies and change the mindset, the killings of minorities and Muslims in the name of blasphemy would not stop.

Some protesters began chanting slogans against the PTI, since the KP government is led by the party. As the sloganeering continued, young people who appeared to be associated with the PTI were seen scuffling with protesters chanting slogans against the party, although the scuffle was immediately broken up by other participants.

The incident forced Kifayatullah, the moderator, to tell everyone to leave. “My friend has been murdered and you people are doing politics here,” he said. “I called you to speak for my friend.”

Civil society activist Naeem Mirza then walked further away and began speaking, leading a number of people to gather around him with some protesters continued their slogans against intelligence agencies, the military and the attitude of the state.

Ms Mazari later told the media the matter should be brought to parliament, and legislation should be made to address the misuse of the blasphemy law.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2017