A Christian man was beaten and his house and factory were set afire by a charged mob in Pakistan’s Sargodha city over suspicion of blasphemy.
According to Geo TV, the incident took place on Saturday morning when an angry mob, including children, entered the Christian man’s house, damaged his belongings and torched a shoe factory within it.
Several videos on social media showed the mob burning the house and shoe factory. Some people are also shown sneaking in the shoe boxes as they are told not to steal.
Another video shows a bloodied man lying on the street with people kicking and cursing him for desecrating the Quran.
Sargodha District Police Officer Asad Ejaz Malhi told Pakistan’s Dawn news that the incident happened due to alleged desecration. He also emphasised that a large police contingent was present at the spot and no fatalities were reported.
However, a video on social media showed firemen standing on the spot as the locals continued vandalising and burning the Christian man’s house. The firemen are seen being warned not to douse the fire.
District Police Officer Malhi further told Dawn that they cordoned off the area and safely evacuated all residents, including two Christian families.
“The police peacefully dispersed the crowd,” he told Dawn.
However, a relative of an injured person contradicted police’s claim, and told Dawn that his uncle was in critical condition at a local hospital.
In a press statement, Noor-ul-Amin Mengal, the Home Affairs Secretary of Pakistan’s Punjab province, said, “Pakistan belongs to all of us; no injustice will be tolerated under the guise of religion. Action will be taken according to the law after a complete investigation.”
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also reacted to the incident. “HRCP is seriously concerned by the unfolding situation in #Sargodha, where the Christian community in Gillwala village is reportedly at grave risk to their lives at the hands of charged mobs. There are unconfirmed reports of a man having been allegedly lynched,” the HRCP said in a post on X.
CONDITION OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN PAKISTAN
Blasphemy laws in Pakistan are among the strictest in the world and have profound implications for religious minorities in the country. These laws, enshrined in the Pakistan Penal Code, prescribe severe punishments, including the death penalty, for various forms of blasphemy, which includes insults against Islam, the Prophet Muhammad, and desecration of the Quran.
Religious minorities, including Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and Ahmadis are disproportionately accused and convicted under these laws.
In August 2023, hundreds of Muslim men rampaged through the streets of Jaranwala, burning and ransacking churches and homes over accusations of blasphemy.
In June 2023, a Christian youth was sentenced to death and slapped with a fine of Rs 20,000 by a Pakistani court on Friday for allegedly committing blasphemy.
Asia Bibi, a Christian woman, was sentenced to death in 2010 for alleged blasphemy and spent years on death row before being acquitted by the Supreme Court in 2018. Her case drew international attention and condemnation.