LAHORE:
Police in Sargodha registered two First Information Reports (FIRs) on Sunday following violent incidents sparked by allegations of blasphemy and subsequent mob violence a day earlier.
On Saturday, police rescued a Christian man and his family in Sargodha’s Mujahid Colony as well as arrested over a dozen individuals, who were part of an enraged mob that subjected him to severe torture accusing him of committing blasphemy.
Police sources said residents of the neighbourhood became infuriated and started protesting by burning tyres after rumours of the alleged desecration surfaced.
The furious crowd vandalised the house of the Christian man and set his shoe factory on fire. They also subjected him to severe torture, leaving him “half dead”.
In the first case registered today, a person has been accused of desecrating pages of the Holy Qur’an. According to the FIR, the individual allegedly desecrated pages of the Holy Qur’an by placing them on an electric motor in Mujahid Colony, an act witnessed by several people.
The complaint asserts that the actions deeply hurt the sentiments of Muslims and incited violence. Charges have been filed under sections 295-A and 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code and section nine of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
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The second FIR addresses the violent response. Over 400 individuals have been charged with offences including anti-terrorism, attempted murder, arson, unlawful assembly, and the use of explosives.
According to the FIR, the suspects, carrying various items, gathered outside a victim’s house, attempted to break in via adjacent rooftops, and set a shoe factory ablaze. The FIR further states that the suspects resisted police efforts to evacuate the victim, resulting in injuries.
So far, police have arrested over 28 individuals in connection with the mob violence.
Meanwhile, Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs, Ramesh Singh Arora, has stated that those involved in the alleged blasphemy incident in Sargodha will be punished according to the law.
Read: Punjab records 193 cases of violence against minorities in a year
On Sunday, the minister took notice of the Sargodha incident and contacted Punjab’s Home Secretary. Following this, Sargodha DPO Dr Asad Ijaz Malhi oversaw the deployment of over 1,000 security personnel across the district, with heightened security measures at churches.
“The culprits will be punished in accordance with the law,” said Arora. “However, until the inquiry is complete, citizens should maintain unity and allow security agencies to perform their duties.”
Arora emphasised the importance of respecting all religions and maintaining a peaceful society. “Churches are places of worship for the Christian community, but any form of religious disrespect cannot be tolerated. We all have a role to play in upholding a harmonious society,” he said.
He appealed to the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and assured them that law enforcement agencies are diligently investigating the matter.
