A charged mob has lynched a man over alleged desecration of the Holy Quran in Khanewal district of Punjab's remote village, three months after a Sri Lankan manager was lynched by factory workers on blasphemy accusations.
According to Dawn, "The Saturday's horrific incident took place in Jungle Dera village of the Khanewal district where hundreds of locals gathered after Maghrib prayers following announcements that a middle-aged man had torn some pages of the Holy Quran and later set them on fire."
It read that the mob did not listen to the suspect, who reportedly claimed innocence. "The villagers first hanged him with a tree and then hit him with bricks, until he died," it read.
An eyewitness said that a police team that reached the village "well before" the incident took place arrested the suspect but the mob snatched him from the SHO’s custody.
Reacting to the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar sought a report from IGP Rao Sardar Ali Khan. "Strict legal action should be taken against those involved in the tragic incident by bringing them to justice," he said in a statement shared by the Government of Punjab on Twitter.
Moreover, the IG Punjab has sought a report from the additional IG South Punjab. "Strict action will be taken against those who take the law into their own hands," it said in a tweet.
Horrific videos and pictures of the incident have been making rounds on social media, with users demanding of the government take action against the people involved.
One of the users questioned the state's policy.
Journalist Farhat Javed shared her previous report on Sialkot lynching.
Another user questioned, "why do people take the law into their hands?"
One lamented the direction towards Pakistani state was heading.
