- Mehsud says KP police to present complete report before SC today
- FIA to identify fake social media accounts on victim’s name, as edited pictures, videos surfaced after student’s murder
- Survivor says university admin was against victim for pointing out loopholes in system
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IGP) Salahuddin Khan Mehsud has reconfirmed that there is no evidence that Mashal Khan and his fellows of the Abdul Wali Khan University (AWKU) had committed blasphemy.
Addressing a press conference here, he said that police had not find any concrete evidence to initiate any legal action against Mashal, Abdullah or Zubair. Prior to the murder of Mashal, investigating officers had not found anything blasphemous on social media, but a lot of activity had occurred after the incident, he added.
He said that the police had sought the help of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). Many manufactured and edited pictures, and videos were now circulating on social media sites for which an expert opinion of the FIA was needed, he added.
Mehsud said total 22 accused had been arrested in the murder case. The suspects were identified through closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras’ footages, who would be presented before an Anti-Terrorism Court. About the political affiliations of the arrested suspects, he said that the police would only focus on the accused. He said that he would ensure that fair and impartial investigation into the incident.
Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, the provincial police chief said that the Federal Investigation Agency has been requested to identify the fake account on the name of Mashal Khan besides a complete report would be submitted in the Supreme Court Tuesday in light of suo-moto notice taken by the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
He said that before happening this tragic incident a news was circulated in the university against Mashal which charged the mob to attack Mashal. Zuber who is friend of the victim has recorded his statement and he categorically rejected these allegations, he said. He said that the police person who is visible in video was a DSP who brought out the dead body of Mashal from the university.
Despite of political affiliation of the accused persons, strict action would be taken against the responsible persons, he said. The inspector general said that it was not in the domain of the university administration to hold inquiry and the varsity committee should contact police timely. However, Abdullah rejected the allegations of blasphemy while Mashal not come to the committee room due to fear of the students.
He said that when DPS Sheikh Maltoon was informed he came the university and took away Abdullah from the administration block to avert his further torture. He said that when the administration and the police were searching Mashal to save him from the mob in the meantime a firing was heard in the hostel number one which is 800 yard away from the administration block.
He said that after the incident police reached the site and dispersed the students through baton charge and arrested 59 persons on the spot. Soon after the incident, there was nothing substantial against Mashal, Adbullah and Zuber and FIA has been requested to identify the fake account holder to reach the perpetrators, he said.
On the other hand, Abdullah said in his statement recorded in the court that he belonged to a religious family and strongly believe on the religion of Islam and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He said that he has no affiliation with any political party and a distinguished students of Journalism and Mass Communication.
He said that Mashal Khan was broad mined person and like him was also a strong Muslim. On April 13, at 11am one of his friend Mohammad Abbas called him at his phone and told him to come to the Journalism Department, he said. He said that Abbas was conspirator and after his call he came to the department where class leader Mudasir Bashar along with other students charged him for blasphemy.
“You, Mashal and Zuber deviated from the real faith of Islam,” he quoted them as saying. He said that he in response bluntly refused and narrated Kalma Tayyiba. He said that he was forced to say against Mashal and falsely implicate him in blasphemy allegations, however he said that he refused to level any allegation against him.
He said that when refused he was locked in the bathroom of the chairman office by teacher Idress, Farooq and Zia Hamdard to save him from the mob. He said that some students broke the window and tortured him but police rescued him and shifted him to a hospital. Later, he said he heard about the brutal murder of Mashal when he was in the hospital.
He said that at that time Mashal Khan was in his room inside the hostel and he was not aware about his status on this matter. He said that the university administration was against Mashal for his interview in which he criticised the administration for loopholes in the system.
Mashal Khan was lynched by an angry mob on the university’s premises for allegedly committing blasphemy while another student was injured. -JUNAID YOUSAFZAI/AZIZ BUNERI
