Social activist and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai shared that she is standing with Mashal Khan's father to seek justice for his son's killing. Mashal, a journalism student at Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan was killed on April 13, 2017 by a violent mob on the pretext of committing blasphemy. However, investigators found no proof of blasphemy and ruled that the murder was politically motivated.

Mashal's father Muhammad Iqbal Lala spoke at a session in Oxford University recently, where he was welcomed by Malala. After the event, Malala shared on her Twitter account: "I was honored to welcome Muhammad Iqbal Lala to speak at Oxford Uni. His son, Mashal Khan, was brutally killed by a mob in Mardan Pakistan, based on malicious allegations of blasphemy. Mashal advocated against injustice & corruption. We stand with Lala to seek justice for Mashal."

The anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Abbottabad is expected to announce the verdict in the Mashal Khan murder case on February 7. ATC Judge Fazal-i-Subhan Khan heard the case in the heavily guarded Haripur Central Jail.

Copyright Independent News Pakistan, 2018