While ASP Gulberg, Shehrbano Naqvi, garnered all the praise for her role in defusing a potentially tragic situation fueled by blasphemy allegations, the valorous deeds of other unsung heroes have unfortunately been overshadowed.
Among these unsung champions were a shopkeeper and two brave salesmen who played integral roles in shielding the woman from an enraged mob until the authorities could intervene.
Johnson Tariq, the astute proprietor of a food establishment, took swift action by providing refuge to the woman within his shop as the hostile mob outside threatened violence. Concurrently, two salesmen formed a human barrier, endeavoring to pacify the approaching mob that was intent on breaching the shop, even at the risk of facing arson, reported Express Tribune in a special report on Sunday.
The incident transpired when chaos erupted outside a shop in Ichhra Bazaar following an allegation that a woman’s attire bore Quranic verses, sparking cries of “blasphemy.”
According to reports, the woman, accompanied by her husband, was traversing the bazaar when a man, noticing the Arabic script on her shirt, began trailing them. Eventually, he accosted the woman near Pakistan Chowk, insisting she change her shirt.
Despite her protests and demands for him to desist, the man persisted and even attempted to forcibly remove her shirt. In response, she called out for help, escalating the situation and drawing a large crowd who believed the allegations of blasphemy.
Taking refuge in a nearby eatery, the woman found herself confronted by a volatile mob, with one individual wielding a knife and threatening harm. The situation quickly deteriorated as tensions escalated over her refusal to comply with demands to remove the shirt and accusations of blasphemy.
Recognizing the imminent danger, Johnson Tariq promptly secured his shop, braving threats from the mob who vowed to set it ablaze, while the two salesmen valiantly guarded the premises.
Fortunately, law enforcement intervened swiftly, with an ASI from Ichra Police and SHO Bilal Ahmad already present on the scene prior to the arrival of ASP Shehrbano. SP Model Town Irtaza Komail, along with officers from nearby stations, also joined efforts to restore order.
However, despite the eventual resolution of the crisis, there lingered a sense of discontent among the police ranks. While ASP Shehrbano rightfully received official recognition, the contributions of the rank-and-file, particularly the shopkeeper and salesmen, remained overlooked.
