“Day of Shame for Pakistan,” Pak PM as Sri Lankan Man Lynched by Mob

Condemning the act, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Friday that he would personally oversee an investigation into “the horrific vigilante attack” which he also called “a day of shame for Pakistan”.

“Let there be no mistake all those responsible will be punished with full severity of the law,” he tweeted.

What Led to the Incident

Priyantha Kumara was working as general manager of the garment factory in Sialkot district, about 100 km from Lahore.

Police officials told The New Indian Express that Kumara had allegedly torn a poster of the hardline Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in which Quranic verses were inscribed and threw it in the trash.

Several videos of the horrific act were shared on social media that showed a mob beating up the victim while chanting slogans against blasphemy and setting his car ablaze. Local reports said that many were seen taking selfies in front of the burning corpse.

Urgency to Rectify an Environment That Enables Abuse: Amnesty

Over 40 persons have been arrested so far, said the Punjab government spokesman Hassaan Khawar to reporters in Lahore. The police is scrutinising the CCTV footage of the incident as well.

A senior Pakistan official told AFP that Islamabad had been in touch with Sri Lankan diplomats over the incident “and have assured them that all those involved in the heinous crime will be brought to justice”.

The horrific act drew a sharp reaction from the international human rights, NGO Amnesty International’s South Asia, saying it is “deeply alarmed by the disturbing lynching and killing” of the Sri Lankan over a “blasphemy accusation.”

“Today’s event underscores the urgency with which an environment that enables abuse and puts lives at risk must be rectified,” said Amnesty International South Asia in a tweet under the hashtag “Sialkot.”