Mashal Khan case: A comparative analysis of newspaper editorials

The Mashal Khan case was reported in leading newspapers like The News, Dawn and The Nation, which are the mainstream English-language newspapers of Pakistan. The editorial treatment of the brutal killing of Mashal Khan forms the basis of this research. During a one-year timeframe (April 13, 2017 – April 13, 2018), a total of 34 editorials were published in these newspapers on the Mashal Khan case. The research methodology used in this study was content analysis while purposive sampling was used for data collection. With the help of keywords, a coding sheet with four themes (mob violence, accused of blasphemy, religious intolerance and poor law enforcement) was developed to analyse the editorials. The selected newspapers condemned this act vehemently and raised a call to amend the blasphemy laws. The newspapers also labelled the case as premeditated murder. Sixteen editorials were published by The Nation which largely discussed religious intolerance as experienced in the country and the poor state of its law and administration. Ten editorials were published in The News which collectively emphasised on law and order, and poor governance. Eight editorials were published in Dawn which examined religious intolerance, condemned mob justice and suggested changes in the blasphemy laws. Collectively, these newspapers suggest that more targeted efforts should be taken to abolish mob justice and media trials so that justice could be served the right way while protecting the masses, in particular minorities.