Police have arrested two more suspects involved in the lynching of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan's (AWKUM) student Mashal Khan taking the number of arrests to 49. According to police sources, the arrested suspects included a student of the varsity named as Khayal Said and a university employee Ali Khan. Both the suspects were produced before City Magistrate in Mardan, who handed them over to police on two-day remand.

The number of the arrested suspects reached 49 in connection with Mashal Khan murder case. The sources said that Mardan police has arrested Ali Khan office assistant at directorate of Planning and Development at Abdul Wali Khan University and is the activist of Awami National Party (ANP). Sources added that Sardar Khan, father of the arrested suspect is district council member of Awami National Party (ANP).

However, Sardar Khan, father of the arrested employee while talking to the media persons rejected the police claim that they have arrested Ali Khan and said that on Thursday he along with his son Ali Khan visited the district police officer (DPO) office and had handed over his son to district police officer (DPO) Mian Saeed Ahmed. He added that later on police issued press release claiming they have arrested Ali Khan which is totally wrong.

The sources further said that Ali Khan was appointed in Abdul Wali Khan University on political basis in the previous government. Sources added that police through video footage identified 49 suspects in which 48 suspects have been arrest so far. Source added that Mohammad Arif, tehsil councilor of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has not been arrested so far. Sources said that local police has also requested federal investigation agency (FIA) to put the name of Mohammad Arif on exit control list (ECL).

According to the sources there is no pressure on police not to arrest the PTI tehsil councilor; adding that there is huge difference in the statements of the suspects in Mashal lynching case recorded in the local court.The sources further disclosed that some suspects claimed that Mashal Khan delivered anti Islam speech and also committed blasphemy while others rejected the allegations on Mashal Khan.

Sources said that majority of the suspects denied the charges in the local court. Sources added that 47 suspects in Mashal lynching case were sent to Central Jail Mardan on judicial remand while Ali Khan who was arrested on Thursday is in police custody. Sources added that 90 percent investigation has been completed in Mashal lynching case.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017