‘Mashal committed blasphemy’, claims classmate

• Wajahat Ullah records confession before Mardan judicial magistrate

By Shah Nawaz Mohal and Farid Sabri

Wajahat Ullah, an accused in Mashal killing case, in his voluntary confession before the court admitted that he witnessed the lynching of his deceased classmate Mashal Khan. According to the confessional statement available with Pakistan Today, he stated that Mashal Khan had anti-Islamic views since the start, whereas Abdullah and Zubair (their classmates) used to follow him.

According to his statement, Mashal was always clad in best attire and “he often committed blasphemy.” He said, “We (Mashal and Wajahat) used to meet in front of the main library and in the canteen, where I (Wajahat) used to snub Mashal Khan for his discourteous attitude towards Islam, advising him to abstain from such ‘nefarious’ and ‘devilish’ designs but he never paid heed to my advice.

“Once, Zubair also talked against the teachings of Holy Quran in the media lab. I (Wajahat) always advised them not to make a mockery of the religion. Zubair also instigated Mashal Khan against me.”

Wajahat recalled that he was called by the class representative (CR) of his class on April 12 when he was attending a class of Professor Abdullah Jan regarding TV reporting.

“In the morning on April 13, one Mudassir Bashir (CR of class) called me, telling me to come to the university and meet him in the chairman’s office. I proceeded to the chairman’s office, where some 15 to 20 people, including officials of the administration, were present. Lecturer Zia Ullah Hamdard, Lecturer Pir Asfandiar, Lecturer Anees, Superintendent Arshad, clerk Saeed and Idrees, et al were part of the congress. The administration had conveyed the meeting to decide the case of Mashal Khan, and Mudassir called me to be a witness of the blasphemous ideas of Mashal Khan. Had I been aware of the conspiracy, I would not have come to the university. I told the people that I personally heard Mashal, Abdullah and Zubair talking against Islam and the Holy Prophet (PBUH),” says his statement.

He said that Faheem Alam was also present to authenticate his version. One Idrees told that “we need no communist”, whereas Hamdard said that a committee would be made to probe the matter.

He confessed that students, including Mudassir and Bashir (Class CR), argued with Zia Ullah Hamdard, and Idrees also forwarded the name of students. Up until then, he said, the congress was calm. But when the security in-charge Bilal Baksh came in, “he straight away warned us that anyone taking Mashal and his comrades’ side would be dealt with iron hands and further stated that he would kill Mashal.” Hearing this, the sitting congress turned into a violent mob and rushed towards the hostel, he said. Firstly, he added, they caught hold of Abdullah and hit him with fists and blows; later on, tortured and murdered Mashal.

“Had I not stated against them, the mob might have been dispersed. But the liability of university administration was much greater than mine. They didn’t have the mandate to convene such meeting. They were supposed to have informed the police. My role in the whole episode is that I gave a statement about the involvement of Mashal in blasphemy over which I am repentant, as it is the law of the land that needs to deal with issues like that, not individuals or university administration,” Wajahat told the Judicial Magistrate.

In the court, after compiling legal formalities, all police officials, including court staff, were sent outside. Accused Wajahat Ullah was asked the following seven questions:

• “Do you know that I am a judicial magistrate first class?”
• “Do you want to make a confession?”
• “Are you making the confession willingly and voluntarily?”
• “Do you understand that you are not bound to make a confession?”
• “Do you understand that you are not bound to make a confessional statement and that if you make a confession, it would be used as evidence against you?” (He said ‘yes’, as an answer to all aforementioned questions)
• “How long have you been in custody?” (He said he remained in the police custody for three days)
• “Have you been subjected to any torture, threat or force, or given any inducement for making a confession?” (He said, no)