The blasphemy issue is always a sensitive one in Pakistan to talk about, yet some people dare to discuss it publicly. Many cases have been put by people and mostly (as reported) are being for personal reasons. This doesn’t mean one can justify the blasphemous act, but yes, the way Pakistani Public is dealing with it is unjustifiable. The issue of Mashaal Khan was not simple, he was killed by an educated mob, which was the first ever incident in the history that an educated lot of the society has killed their own fellow in the name of religion.
His father, Iqbal Khan, has been fighting the case of his son’s murder amongst different parts of this society. Almost all the perpetrators are out of jail and have been granted bail by the Anti-Terrorist courts, though Mashaal was killed in broad daylight where each and every person involved can be seen or recognized very easily. A poet by nature and a small businessman by profession, Iqbal Khan, always termed his son innocent and his claim has been endorsed by the Joint Investigation committee consisted of Police and Intelligence agencies. The clearance may have satisfied the apex court or the relevant authorities but couldn’t satisfy the religious minds who have been protesting against the verdict by the ATC in Mashaal Murder case. The main culprit Imran Ali is from the student wing of a Religious Political party whose father, in an interview, also tried to justify his son’s act of killing Mashaal Khan.
What’s next? Now it has been a year long, yet the family of Mashaal Khan waiting for justice. I have personally talked to Iqbal Khan and his daughter Storia Iqbal many times. Storia once told me that she and her sister couldn’t go school/college after Mashaal killing due to psychological pressure of the incident. Media also talked about Mashaal Khan too much, but now it seems they have also lost the interest in the story. No one talks about him or for the justice they are waiting anxiously according to the rules and law of Pakistan.
Storia Iqbal and Saba Iqbal, Mashaal Khan’s sisters, have been deprived of their education after 13th April 2017 and they are still out of their schools/college. Who is responsible for this stoppage and destruction of their future? Who will answer them? They have requested, again and again, both Provincial and Federal Government, to facilitate them in arranging education out of Swabi/Mardan, but they are busy in their politics as the election is near.
Supreme Court also took Suo moto action of the incident and the JIT submitted the report which clearly rejected the blasphemous allegation on Mashaal Khan, yet the killers have been given bail by the esteemed court of Abbottabad.
The welcoming procession for the culprits who came out on bail wasn’t an astonishing, but it was horrible when no one dares to take any action against those who bravely made victory sign after release and said, “They will do it with everyone who commits blasphemy”. Now, who are they to convict a person who commits blasphemy? Are they the state institution or Judicial to act upon some wrongdoing? Will there be any accountability or questioning from those who supported these killers and termed them ‘Ghazian e Khatm-e-Nabuwat’?
Today, a year passed of his killing, nobody talks about him or his killing and no one will talk, especially those who are in power because they have no concern with it. Mashaal’s family is still waiting for justice and we can only hope that they will get justice soon. Red Solute to Mashaal Khan and his brave family.
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