Suspect in lynching of Pakistani student claims university officials asked him to testify against victim

A student who was suspected of being involved in the lynching of another student in a Pakistani university claimed that the school officials asked him to testify that the victim had committed blasphemy.

The suspect, identified only as Wajahat, had admitted that he was part of the mob that lynched Mashal Khan, a 23-year-old student at the Abdul Wali Khan University in the city of Mardan.

Khan, who was described by others as an intellectually curious student who openly professed devotion to Islam, was attacked by a mob last week after he was accused of committing blasphemy during a heated debate about religion with other students.

Wajahat claimed that class representative Mudassir Bashir asked him to testify against Khan before the university administration.

"Some 15 to 20 people, including university officials were present at the chairman's office," said Wajahat, according to the Pakistani news website Dawn.

"The administration had convened the meeting to decide the case of Mashal Khan and Bashir had called me to be a witness regarding the blasphemous ideas of Mashal Khan," he added.

The suspect insisted that Khan had committed blasphemy despite senior police officials saying they found no evidence to suggest that the victim had committed the act.

Wajahat further claimed that Bilal Baksh, the university's head security officer, warned that those who defend Khan and his supporters will be dealt with "an iron hand."

The suspect said that Baksh also threatened to kill Khan himself, which prompted the mob to rush towards the hostel where the victim was staying.

Abdullah, another student who survived the mob beating, also claimed that he was asked to testify against Khan, but he refused.

He had been accused of belonging to the Ahmadi faith and was forced to recite verses from the Quran before the mob started beating him. He was badly beaten before the police managed to rescue him from the attackers.

Following the incident, a video has reportedly emerged showing the mob celebrating and congratulating each other for lynching Khan.

A total of 32 suspects has been arrested for the lynching incident. Seven suspects have reportedly confessed to the murder on Wednesday before the police.

Members of the business community in Khan's hometown of Swabi recently held a rally to protest the murder and demand justice against the perpetrators.