On Friday, a Sri Lankan national was beaten to death and his body burnt over allegations of blasphemy in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The man was a manager at a factory in Sialkot in the Punjab province.
Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted terming the incident “a day of shame for Pakistan,” and stated all those responsible will be punished. Chief minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar stated that he was “extremely shocked at the horrific Sialkot incident,” and has ordered an inquiry. Around 50 people have been arrested so far.
A police official stated that Priyantha Kumara, a Sri Lankan national who was in his 40s, worked as a general manager of a factory in Sialkot district, some 100kms from Lahore, allegedly tore a poster of the hardline Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in which Quranic verses were inscribed and threw in the dustbin. The poster of the Islamist party was pasted on the wall adjoining the office of Kumara. A couple of factory workers saw him removing the poster and spread the word in the factory.
Hundreds of men, enraged over the “blasphemy” incident, started gathering outside the factory from adjoining areas. Most of them were activists and supporters of the TLP. He was badly injured and succumbed to his injuries. The mob also burnt his body before police could reach the spot. Several videos were circulated on social media on social media showing hundreds of men gathered at the site surrounding the body and chanting slogans of the TLP. A Punjab government spokesperson stated, “CCTV footage is being obtained so that those who were responsible can be identified. The IG has directed law enforcement personnel to produce results in 48 hours after which the probe will be extended.”
