ISLAMABAD: The Senate’s Standing Committee on Interior on Tuesday demanded that the military court take up Mashal Khan’s murder case. The committee, however, opposed the formation of a judicial commission.
The body, presided over by Senator Rehman Malik, suggested that people falsely accusing others of blasphemy should be punished like a blasphemer.
Malik condemned the cold-blooded murder of the Wali Khan University student by a mob. Malik said everyone was shocked by this tragic and heartbreaking incident. He said such brutalities not only bring bad name to the country but also defame religion.
“Being Muslims, we should respect our religion and the religions of others and no one should be allowed to use derogatory remarks about any religion.” He said that Pakistan has a law to deal with blasphemy cases.
Mardan RPO Alam Shinwari informed the committee that the university staff was involved in Khan’s murder. Shinwari added that pressure would not be accepted on the issue.
Malik said that there was pressure on him not to take up this issue in the committee but he had not backed down. “Death is in the hands of Allah alone,” he said. The RPO told the committee that 22 suspects were arrested so far. He said none would be spared if found involved. Nothing was found online and from the belongings and room of Mashal Khan that could suggest he had committed blasphemy or he had been reading any anti-Islamic book or literature, the RPO said. Malik said that a mob could not become the judge, jury and executioner in such sensitive matters. He said that whoever made false accusation of blasphemy on another person, he should be handed the same punishment that a blasphemer was given. MQM Senator Tahir Mashhadi suggested that the Mashal Khan murder case should be tried in the military court. Senator Javed Abbasi suggested that the killers should be punished more severely than terrorists. The committee also suggested placing a ban on the graphic video that showed Mashal’s corpse. The committee also prayed for the slain student.
The committee was of the view that it was the worst kind of brutality which was exercised by educated section of society. Senator Abbasi said the incident happened in day light and everything was clear so the formation of a judicial commission aimed at lingering the issue.
The committee directed the RPO to leave no stone unturned in bringing all the culprits to justice.
