Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday afternoon issued a strongly-worded condemnation of the lynching of a university student in Mardan over allegations of blasphemy.

“I am shocked and saddened by the senseless display of mob justice that resulted in the murder of a young student, Mashal Khan, at Wali Khan University, Mardan,” the premier said.

“The state will never tolerate those who take the law in their own hands,” he warned.

He also ordered action against those found involved in the incident, directing police to arrest those who were responsible.

“The nation should stand united to condemn this crime and to promote tolerance and rule of law in the society,” the prime minister said.

“No father should have to send his child off to be educated, with the fear of having him return in a coffin.”

Read more: Mardan university student lynched by mob over alleged blasphemy

The prime minister’s condemnation came two days after the episode, with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Imran Khan taking the lead in condemning the brutal episode a day earlier.

Several social media users had criticised the premier and other government representatives for what they said was ‘silence’ and ‘apathy’ from the ruling party.

Before the prime minister, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had condemned the murder on Twitter, saying: “Falsely accusing someone of blasphemy without verification is also blasphemy.. this is not the teaching of our Rasool Rehmat ul Almeen PBUH”.