LAHORE: Twelve former presidents of the Supreme Coud Bar Association (SCBA) have expressed their anguish and concern at the lynching of Mashal Khan, a student of Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan.

The brutal manner in which the students of the university killed their own fellow and attacked others had given pain and grief not only to the family of the deceased but it has traumatised and disturbed every sane person in the country, they said in a statement on Monday.

SCBA`s former presidents included Munir A Malik, Asma Jahangir, Aitzaz Ahsan, retired Justice Tariq Mahmood, Akram Sheikh, Abid Hassan Minto, Qazi Muhammad Jameel, Malik Muhammad Qayyum, Ali Ahmed Kurd, Yaseen Azad, Kamran Muhaza and Syed Ali Zafar.

The killing of Mashal was a wakeup call for every citizen who valued diversity and protection from the state and more voices should condemn such brutal acts of violence, the statement said.

`It is evident, from the reponing of this gruesome incident, that no one is safe from the rage of mobs that can be mobilised within no time to use the worst form of violence in the name of religion. Worst still is the utter helplessness of the law enforcement to control such charged crowds. It is alarming that in this case the law enforcement present at the site reportedly condoned the brutality.

The former presidents of the SCBA noted that this was not the first incident where mob violence had been incited to kill people in the name of religion but an end should be sought to it. The government should not only ensure that the perpetrators of Mashal Khan`s lynching and other such crimes were brought to justice but that intolerance was strictly reprimanded in all centres of learning. Stricter laws should be enacted and implemented against incitement to violence and exploitation on religious grounds, the prominent lawyers said and added that social media was full of hate messages that were ill-founded and continue to vilify and threat individuals.

`Regrettably, the fair name of religion is being misused even by those at the helm of prestigious institutions, which encourages others to follow suit. An atmosphere of fear is being purposely created to silence any criticism of exploitation of religion. Such repression will only intimidate the youth and asphyxiate debate and discourse,` the statement added.