Almost a year after the cold-blooded murder of Mashal Khan at the hands of a mob in Mardan University, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Haripur announced the verdict today.
Of the 61 accused in the First Information Report (FIR), 1 suspect was awarded death penalty while 5 others were sentenced to life imprisonment lasting 25 years.
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Mashal Khan’s father while talking to BBC Urdu expressed his disappointment at the verdict. He said that 26 suspects named in the FIR had been acquitted despite visual evidence.
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#MashalKhan
Good job kpk police we proud of you 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤ pic.twitter.com/dT1ii9ETv6— usman suleman (@usmansuleman48) February 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/Amir__Bashir/status/961195609637163009
Long live Justice 🙏
Justice has been done..
Nobody is allowed to take law in his hands…
May Allah bless soul of #MashalKhan
Salute to Courts…
Salute to KPK Police.. pic.twitter.com/uHZptIc0ss— محترم وقاص امجد (@Waqas_amjad) February 7, 2018
At the same time, there are also many who believe that a much harsher verdict should have been given.
https://twitter.com/_Junalicious_/status/961195334809636864
As long as main culprits of #MashalKhan's lynching roam free, there can be no justice done to #MashalKhan. #ArifKhan #HimmatMayar and other AWKU staff who were involved in planning his lynching… https://t.co/3cNrLAqLCR
— Milli Ghorzang (@MilliGhorzang) February 7, 2018
There are also many who believe that justice can possibly never be served in Mashal Khan murder case.
People saying that #MashalKhan has been given justice. Justice should have been that he lived a full and happy life, he deserved to grow old, he deserved to die in his bed surrounded by his loved ones, he should have followed his dreams and justice should have been that he lived.
— a. (@teepusahab) February 7, 2018
perhaps in view of the negative reaction, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has decided to file an appeal against those who were given a clean chit.
KPK government decides to file an appeal against 26 FREED. Justice must be served properly! #MashalKhan
— Sohail Arshad (@S0hailArshad) February 7, 2018
Mashal Khan murder case has propelled many Pakistanis to demand a law that effectively addresses incidents of mob violence. This is especially important since Mashal Khan’s lynching was not an isolated incident. Every year similar incidents of mob violence are reported, yet the country still does not have a law that would address this fatal concern.
People saying that #MashalKhan has been given justice. Justice should have been that he lived a full and happy life, he deserved to grow old, he deserved to die in his bed surrounded by his loved ones, he should have followed his dreams and justice should have been that he lived.
— a. (@teepusahab) February 7, 2018
At this hour, our thoughts and prayers are with Mahal Khan’s family. May they all be blessed with immense perseverance and strength. And may Pakistan never forget Mashal Khan.