SWABI: The government was on Monday urged to transfer the lynching case of Mashal Khan, a student of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, to military court.

The demand was made by leaders of Qam Qalm, a literary body, and Mashal Forum, while speaking at a meeting here.

Hailing from Zaida area, Mashal Khan, a student of mass communication, was lynched on the varsity campus by a mob of students, university staffers and outsiders on alleged blasphemy charges on April 13.

They said Mashal was sent to the university by his poor parents to acquire higher education so he could bring prosperity to the family as well as the country, but their dreams were shattered. They lamented that Arif Khan Mardanvi, a former PTI councillor who was seen in the video warning a crowd not to disclose Mashal Khan’s killers, was yet to be arrested.

Dr Mohammad Jasim, patron-in-chief of Qam Qalm, said leaders of political and religious parties, human right activists and social workers had demanded awarding exemplary punishment to Mashal’s killers.

“We have to shield our young generation from falling prey to the tricks of those who want to achieve their nefarious ends through these tactics,” he said.

Tasawar Manerwal, president of Qam Qalm, said from the Mashal’s case they should learn a lesson that laws of the country must take their due course and the youth should not jump to conclusions without knowing the true nature of a situation.

Liaqat Yousafzai, Mashal Forum’s general secretary, said efforts had been underway to rename the University of Swabi as Mashal University Swabi.

Jan Bahadar, a member of Maneri Jirga, said it was vital to give exemplary punishment to those involved in Mashal’s killing for smooth running of the affairs of universities and other educational institutions.

LOCAL GOVERNANCE PROJECT: ‘Democratic Local Governance for Development in Pakistan’, a four-year project for strengthening of the local government system, was launched in Swabi district the other day with the facilitation of Samajee Behbood Rabita Council.

In this regard, a function was held at the district council hall where district nazim Ameer Rehman was the chief guest. Funded by the European Union, the project would be implemented by the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI).

The organisers said the project was aimed at establishing a district coalition that would focus on empowering the community and improving the local government to deliver.

The coalition would identify problems being faced by the people and local government in sectors like health and education.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2017