Pakistani court has finally given its verdict and sentenced one man to death and handed life terms to five others for murdering a student who was falsely accused of blasphemy.
Twenty-five others were convicted of lesser offences in the case and 26 people were acquitted.
Last year, Mashal Khan was dragged out of his university accommodation in north-west Pakistan in April 2017 by a crowd of hundreds of his fellow students. He was badly beaten before being shot and his body mutilated.
The trial took place inside Haripur Central Jail for safety reasons. Security was tight for the verdict, with hundreds of police deployed and roads closed around the prison.
Here’s what the Twitter world has to say on the matter
After court verdict on Mashal case, KP police has once again shown it's professionalism by bringing a murderous mob under the ambit of the law. This is the first time in Pakistan where police has been successful in bringing the main accused plus other mob mbrs to justice.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 7, 2018
#JusticeForMashal
Decision on Pakistan’s Justice system today! Pakistan Justice System is on trial in #MashalKhan’s case. It will be a failure of the system if #MashalKhan’s killers are not given exemplary punishment. The script writers & directors are still at large. https://t.co/CnQjQz2WoD— Bushra Gohar (@BushraGohar) February 7, 2018
#mashalkhan lynching verdict due in sometime. May the perpetrators, their abetters and instigators all get exemplary punishment.
May the judgement give solace to the scarred family.— Nida F (@nidaFsameer) February 7, 2018
Take this as a much needed victory. Celebrate the justice, and the hope this gives. But don't mistake it for a turning point. This is a small step, and we have a long long way to go before we get to that turning point. #MashalKhan
— Faizan. (@thoraoffbeat) February 7, 2018
#BREAKING…Death sentence to one accused, 25 years imprisonment to five while 26 freed from the mob which attacked and killed #MashalKhan under false #Blasphemy charges by Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Fazal Subhan in high security Haripur Prison #Pakistan #JusticeForMashal served
— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) February 7, 2018
However, many are not satisfied with the court’s verdict and believe that all those involved in the crime should be punished equally and given a death penalty, in order to make an example out those who did wrong to Mashal Khan (an innocent student), aslo to avoid such incidents in the future.
https://twitter.com/AyeshaArifMemon/status/961174536325685249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mangobaaz.com%2Fthe-verdict-of-mashal-khan-case%2F
https://twitter.com/faisaltanoli59/status/961172664676225025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mangobaaz.com%2Fthe-verdict-of-mashal-khan-case%2F
An appeal has also been lodged in order to plead to the court to reconsider it’s verdict
#MashalKhanMurderCase: KP government decided to appeal against release of 26 suspects: sources https://t.co/g4YxBXewgG@PTIofficial @ImranKhanPTI @KPKUpdates #MashalKhan pic.twitter.com/3hQF8URo4u
— The_Nation (@The_Nation) February 7, 2018
Mashal Khan’s murder has yet again brought to light the issue of using the law of blasphemy for personal benefits such as grudges, rivalries and because no one can question the law without being a target of it themselves. This is exactly why this case is important in order to encourage the courts and government to take notice and carry out extensive investigation before labeling someone an outcast and taking their life.
What do our readers think about the matter? Do let us know in the comments section below.
