A Sri Lankan national, who was identified as Priyantha Kumara, was tortured to death in Sialkot and his body was set on fire after a hundreds-strong mob attacked the foreign national over blasphemy allegations.
The incident took place on Wazirabad Road in Sialkot, where the workers of private factories attacked the export manager — who was a resident of the city — and burnt his body after killing him. Videos shared on social media showed hundreds of men and young boys gathered at the site, with groups of them chanting slogans.
What actually happened?
The factory workers had accused the victim of desecrating posters bearing the name of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). However, other reports claimed that Sri Lankan national was accused of “tearing down Durood Sharif”.
Armagan Gondal, the Sialkot police chief, told the Associated Press that the deceased was the operational manager at the factory for the past seven years. The manager was lynched by the mob inside the factory, Gondal said, citing initial information.
However, DPO Malik said police were still trying to determine what exactly prompted the mob to kill the Sri Lankan, whose remains were sent to a hospital for an autopsy.
Gujranwala RPO Imran Ahmar told reporters that police were carrying out an “in-depth” investigation into the incident, and that details would be shared after collecting complete evidence.
“Action will be taken as per the law against the individuals involved in the incident,” he said, adding that it would be premature to comment on the motive before the investigation. In a statement issued later in the day, Sialkot police said that officials had begun investigating the lynching.
The statement said that a case had been registered against unidentified people under sections 431 (mischief by injury to public road, bridge, river or channel), 427 (mischief causing damage amounting to Rs50), 149 (unlawful assembly of people), 147 (rioting), 297 (trespassing of burial places), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender), 302 (intentional murder) and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The reaction
Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the “horrific, vigilante attack” on the factory and the burning alive of the Sri Lankan man “was a day of shame for Pakistan”.
“I am overseeing the investigations and, let there be no mistake, all those responsible will be punished with the full severity of the law. Arrests are in progress,” he said.
Speaking to the media hours after the incident alongside Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister on Information Hassan Khawar and Punjab IG Rao Sardar Ali Khan, Special Representative for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi condemned the lynching on “behalf of all ulemas” and said that it had “defaced Islam”.
Ashrafi said that the country had laws when it comes to Namoos-i-Risalat (the sanctity of the Prophet). He said that those responsible for the incident had not served the country or Islam and had gone against the religion.
“The elements involved in the incident have tried to damage Islamic laws and teachings,” he said, adding that the culprits will be punished for the “barbarism”.
Offering his condolences to the victim’s family, Ashrafi said that the country’s religious scholars will hold a joint press conference at a later date. “We will also go to the Sri Lankan embassy for condolences.”
