Pakistan's Blasphemy: Mob burns man alive for burning Holy Quran

The Express Tribune News Network

An angry mob lynched a man accused of burning the Holy Quran in the Chanighot area of Bahawalpur, burning him to death after pouring petrol on him on Wednesday. The police reached the spot to control the matter but the mob refused to hand over the accused and continued to torture him. DSP Ahmadpur Rana Naveed Mumtaz, SHO Chanighot Ghulam Muhaudin Gujjar and seven constables were also injured by the mob. The protesters also set a DSP jeep and three police mobiles on fire. DPO Bahawalpur Ishaq Jahangir told The Express Tribune that it was “crystal clear” that the man who set the Holy Quran on fire was mentally unstable. He added that a police force was sent from Bahawalpur to control the situation and the police are trying to investigate the matter. He added that all those involved in the incident will be arrested, and an extra force has been deployed at the Chanighot Police Station to avoid any untoward incident. The person killed has not been identified as yet, and his body has been shifted to a hospital for an autopsy, the DPO said. The controversial blasphemy laws in Pakistan have resulted in incarceration and the death penalty being handed to scores of people. Former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer was also shot down by his personal guard for supporting a Christian woman Aasia Bibi accused of blasphemy.