Mardan university reopens 40 days after lynching incident

MARDAN: The Abdul Wali Khan University (AWKU) reopened here on Monday after 40 days since the lynching incident of 23-year-old journalism student Mashal Khan, police also recovered weapons from the varsity’s hostel during a search operation, ARY News reported.

Last month, the university had to suspend its classes in the aftermath of the lynching incident to avoid any untoward incident and further escalation of violence. The classes have finally been resumed today after hiatus of over a month.

A day earlier, Mashal Khan’s Chehlum was observed in Swabi, attended by the members of civil society, political leaders and activists besides representatives of religious parties.

The police conducted a search operation in hostels of the university before resumption of the academic activities in the institution. During the search of hostel rooms police seized weapons include four pistols, 10 gun-magazines and other ammunition apart of knives.

Mashal Khan, 23-year-old student of Mass Communication at the Abdul Wali Khan University, was attacked by a vigilante mob, incited by rumours about allegedly publishing blasphemous content online. He was brutally beaten and shot by the enraged mob and succumbed to the injuries.

Mardan police have so far arrested 53 suspects for involvement in Mashal Khan murder case, including the key suspect, Imran, who is suspected of having shot the student.

Police, however, yet to arrest Arif Khan, a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) councillor, who was seen warning a crowd not to name Mashal Khan’s murderer after the student’s lynching and said to be at large.