Blasphemy was used as an excuse to target Mashal: Imran Khan

Blasphemy was used as an excuse to target Mashal: Imran Khan Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan visited the house of Mashal Khan to offer his condolence to the slain student’s family on Tuesday. Khan, sitting alongside the father of Mashal Khan, stressed that no one would be allowed to misuse the blasphemy law to kill someone. “The purpose and reason was something else and blasphemy was used as an excuse to target Mashal,” he said. Khan said that being a father himself, he could understand what Mashal’s family was going through and vowed that those responsible for this barbaric crime would be brought to justice. The PTI chairman said Mashal did not commit any blasphemy and that his killers would not be spared. “All of Pakistan is united that those who committed this sin [of murdering Mashal] will be punished,” he said. Khan pointed out that KP chief minister Pervaiz Khattak had ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident even before the Supreme Court took suo moto notice of the matter. Khan reiterated that the law of the jungle cannot be allowed to prevail and said he had come to visit Mashal’s family to assure them that justice will be done. Following his visit to Mashal's residence, the PTI chief tweeted that the slain student's family had requested him to make sure those involved in Mashal's murder are brought to justice and that the university is renamed after Mashal Khan. Khan promised to make every effort possible to fulfill their requests.