ISLAMABAD: Taking cognizance of the mob lynching of a Sri Lankan national in Sialkot for blasphemy allegations, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa Friday vowed to bring the culprits to justice.
Per government claims, 50 suspects have been arrested for involvement in the killing of Sri Lankan Manager of a factory in Sialkot who was tortured to death by an angry mob of hundreds after lynching over blasphemy allegations.
Prime Minister Imran Khan vowed to punish those responsible for torturing to death a Sri Lankan national over blasphemy allegations in Sialkot.
“The horrific vigilante attack on factory in Sialkot & the burning alive of Sri Lankan manager is a day of shame for Pakistan,” the premier wrote on his official Twitter handle. He revealed that arrests are being made and he himself is overseeing the investigation.
Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed condemned the “cold-blooded” murder of Sri Lankan national and vowed to extend all-out support to civil administration to arrest the culprits.
“The cold-blooded murder of Srilankan Mr Priyantha Kumara by a mob in Sialkot is extremely condemnable and shameful,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) quoted Gen Qamar as saying.
Gen Qamar, as per the military’s media wing, said such extra-judicial vigilantism cannot be condoned at any cost.
“[The] COAS directs all out support to civil administration to arrest perpetrators of this heinous crime and bring them to justice,” it added.
Meanwhile, Punjab government spokesperson Hassan Khawar said that at least 50 people allegedly involved in the grisly act have been detained thus far.
Addressing the media hours after the tragic incident, Khawar, flanked by PM’s aide on interfaith harmony Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi and Inspector General Police Punjab Rao Sardar Ali Khan, said Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar have issued directives to detain all accused involved in the heinous crime.
He said that officials were obtaining the CCTV footage of the incident to arrest the culprits and added that the Punjab police chief had directed the officials to submit the report within 48 hours.
