The case of lynching of Mashal Khan was taken up by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Haripur. The ATC is closed to reporters and the copy of verdict has not been issued yet.
Reports from outside the court say that one person has been sentenced to death, 5 have been sentenced to 25 years in jail, 25 will be jailed for 4 years, while 26 have been let go without a punishment
We say “unofficial” because the text of the verdict is yet to be released by the time of publication of this post.
Many Pakistanis were anxiously waiting for the verdict
Anxiously waiting for the court verdict in brutal murder of #MashalKhan case which will have impact on increasing religious vigilantism.
— Owais Tohid (@OwaisTohid) 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
This verdict has finally proven that Mashal Khan was wrongfully accused of blasphemy and killed just for personal grudges
#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
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. ?️? (@merabichrayaar) February 7, 2018
Long live Justice ?
Justice has been done..
Nobody is allowed to take law in his hands…
May Allah bless soul of #MashalKhan
Salute to Courts…
Salute to KPK Police.. pic.twitter.com/uHZptIc0ss— Mmmm… (@Waqas_amjad) February 7, 2018
Kudos to the prosecution for registering a terrorism case and not letting them exploit the diyat loophole. #MashalKhan
— Godfather IV (@godfatheriv) February 7, 2018
However, some Pakistanis are not satisfied with the judgement and want all those accused of involvement to be in for life
I’m not satisfied with verdict, court should have made this case a ‘test case’, how 26 people can be released?? #MashalKhan
— Hina Butt (@hinaparvezbutt) February 7, 2018
i am not satisfied with this Decision , all 61 accused should be arrest & given death sentence
Rt if u agree #JusticeForMashal #MashalKhan #Mashalmurdercase pic.twitter.com/Knl16asOlj— Faisal (@faisaltanoli59) February 7, 2018
Only 6 people are punished out of 60, whereas the brutal video of Mashal Khan murder showed a lot more than just 6 people. #MashalKhan
We are Not Satisfied ?? pic.twitter.com/HvSJmMyTh9— Ayesha Memon (@AyeshaArifMemon) February 7, 2018
The government of KP has decided to appeal against the release of 26 individuals previously accused of involvement
#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’s brother, in the meanwhile, has demanded action against the political party councillor involved in the incident and also for naming a university after his brother
#MashalKhan's brother calls upon the KP government to arrest and prosecute the accused, including PTI councillor Arif Khan, who remain at large.
— Ali Salman Alvi (@alisalmanalvi) February 7, 2018
Mashal Khan's brother has appealed PTI Chairman @ImranKhanPTI to fulfill his promise of naming a university after #MashalKhan https://t.co/qsvuJIgdgv@PTIofficial @KPKUpdates @Pervaiz_Khattak pic.twitter.com/t1tSOfBVDx
— The Nation (@The_Nation) February 7, 2018
Here’s why this verdict is important
For years, people have been using this law for personal benefits. Personal rivalry and grudges have resulted in the loss of many innocent lives. The problem, however, was that no one would question the individual accusing the other of blasphemy. There was no punishment for falsely accusing someone and being the reason for the loss of lives.
This verdict sets a very different precedent
The outrage and disbelief of the people was such that they wanted the matter investigated. The wanted to know whether such an act had been committed or not because Mashal Khan was mercilessly killed. This investigation proves how we wrongly accuse others because we don’t agree with them. This means that our judicial system must be equipped to punish those misusing the law for their own benefit.
This Pakistani’s Warning Against Demand For Public Hanging And Lynch Mob Mentality Is Extremely Important