Man lynched by villagers over alleged blasphemy

Published

4 years ago

February 14, 2022

A mob has lynched a man after he allegedly burnt pages of the Quran, the Muslim Holy Book

Dozens of people suspected of involvement in the lynching of Muhammad Mushtaq have been arrested with social media videos shot by villagers in Tulamba identifying more suspects.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Imran Khan, ordered action against the mob and any police officers who turned a blind eye to the killing.

He says that the lynching would be dealt with the full severity of the law.

“We have zero tolerance for anyone taking the law into their own hands [he asked] Punjab officials for a report on action taken against perpetrators of the lynching… and against the police who failed their duty,”
He says.

We have zero tolerance for anyone taking the law into their own hands & mob lynchings will be dealt with full severity of the law. Have asked Punjab IG for report on action taken against perpetrators of the lynching in MIan Channu & against the police who failed in their duty.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 13, 2022

According to police, the mob assembled at a mosque Saturday night where a mosques prayer leader’s son announced that he caught Mushtaq burning pages of the holy book.

Mushtaq was found by police tied to a tree unconscious.

A police officer said that the villages that were armed with batons, axes and iron killed him and that the mob also attacked the police.

His family say he had mental disabilities and that he “wasn’t right” for the past decade.

Pakistan’s human rights minister, Shireen Mazari, says the Punjab government must take immediate action against those that watched it happen.

“Laws exist – the police must enforce these laws and now allow mobs to rule the day,”
she says.

The mob lynching of a man in MIan Channu is condemnable & cannot be allowed to go unpunished. Punjab govt must immed take action against the police that watched it happen & the perpetrators. Laws exist – the police must enforce these laws & not allow mobs to rule the day.
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) February 13, 2022

Written by Savannah Pocock

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