Afghanistan Times
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AT News Report-KABUL: Candlelight vigils in memory of Mashal Khan have been organized in various provinces of Afghanistan, including Kabul, Khost, Jalalabad and Mazar Sharif, attended by a large number of politicians, civil society members, government officials and activists.
Talking to a gathering here at Kabul, acting minister for borders and tribal ministry affairs, Abdul Ghafoor Liwal, said terrorism and man-made religious extremism is a great threat to the liberal and nationalist school of thought on both sides of the Durand Line. He said we need individual and collective efforts to overcome militancy and religious fundamentalism. He added Mashal Khan’s efforts and valuable contributions to peace and cause of Loy Afghanistan would be remembered for ever.
Addressing to the participants of a function, Abasin Barial, said Afghan people extend condolence and sympathies to the family of Mashal Khan who lost his precious life in a barbaric and inhuman attack of religious extremists in Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Another participant and active political activist Najeeb Nangyal said, the entire Afghan nation has been sadden on the lynching of Mashal Khan. He claimed that the inhuman killing of Mashal Khan was planted by the security agencies of Pakistan to convey a warning tone and threatening message to the activists belongs to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA and Baluchistan who are struggling for Loy Afghanistan and independent Pashtunistan. He said, in reaction to the anti-Pashtun and pro-terror policies of Pakistan, freedom and liberation spirit among the Pashtun youth and students of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA and Baluchistan are increasing day by day, adding that Mashal Khan’s murder is a part of state-based dirty game to create terror among Pashtun youth. He furthered that Mashal means in Pashtu, “Light” and this light is more empowered after his inhuman killing. He went on saying that the candlelight vigil functions in many parts of the country indicate commitment of Lar o Bar Afghan’s youth and students to complete the incomplete mission which took the precious life of Mashal Khan. Prior to this, Afghan envoy to Pakistan, Dr. Omer Zakhilwal went to Mashal Khan’s home in Swabi district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where he offered condolence to his parents.
Mashal Khan was a regular student of journalism and mass communication in Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan. On April 13, 2017 he was killed by a large group of students after he was accused of running a Facebook page where he was allegedly publishing blasphemous material. Peaceful protests against lynching of Mashal Khan have been reported from many parts of Pakistan, seeking justice for Mashal Khan. However, police has registered FIR against 20 persons, including students, university employees and outsiders. The Human Rights Commission raised grave alarm over Mashal Khan’s lynching and emphasized to bring all those involved to justice. Moreover, Chief Minister and police of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said there were no traces of any blasphemous contents on either in the victim’s cell phone of his social media account.
