The Lahore police lodged a first information report against dozens of miscreants who harassed a woman wearing a shirt with Arabic-script print in the city’s Ichhra Bazaar earlier this week.
Given the sensitivity of the issue, the police have sealed the copy of the FIR.
Suspects had accused the woman of “blasphemy” as they confused the Arabic alphabet and words with the Quranic verses.
She was saved by a woman police officer who escorted her to safety after hundreds gathered. She later gave a public apology.
In videos that went viral on social media, the woman looked scared, sitting in the far corner of the restaurant, and shielding her face with her hand as others made accusations against her.
The dress had the word “Halwa” printed in Arabic letters on it, meaning beautiful in Arabic.
Around 300 people had crowded outside the restaurant by the time they arrived, according to Assistant Superintendent Syeda Shehrbano.
In another video, the ASP is seen trying to convince people that in the past the department has resolved such cases. In some videos, people can be heard chanting that those who blaspheme must be beheaded.
“Nobody actually knew what was written on the shirt,” ASP Shehrbano told BBC Urdu, “The major feat was to try to get that woman out of the area in order to ensure that she is safe.”
Earlier this week, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir lauded her efforts to rescue the woman from a violent mob.
“Women are an invaluable part of Pakistan’s society and their respect is enshrined in our religion as well as our social ethos,” COAS Munir was quoted as saying in a press release.
