- JIT head reiterates resolve to take investigation into tragic incident to logical conclusion
- NA passes resolution, condemning tragic incidents of mob lynching in various parts of country
SWAT/PESHWAR: The police claimed to have arrested 23 accused allegedly involved in the lynching of an alleged blasphemer in Madyan area of Swat while the provincial government formed a joint investigation team (JIT) to investigate gruesome incident.
Speaking to media persons, Head of joint investigation team (JIT), Swat Police’s SP Investigations Badshah Hazrat Khan, reiterated his resolve to bring the Madyan tragedy investigation to a logical conclusion, saying that the police have so far arrested 23 persons nominated in the FIR.
He said the police raids were being conducted to arrest the other accused involved in the incident which occurred in Madyan – a picturesque town and tehsil headquarter in Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The local police have registered two FIRs in connection with the episode: one covers those who attacked the Madyan Police Station and murdered the person who is nominated, in the second one over the blasphemy charges.
The police have registered a case against 2000 to 2500 mob members including 49 nominated accused.
“Apart from the named accused, action is going on to arrest the co-accused and help is being taken from the videos in this regard”, he added
The SP Investigations further said that the police took the accused Sulaiman into custody and shifted him to the police station keeping in mind the sensitivity of the situation. “the police made every possible effort to save the alleged blasphemer from the mob,” he recalled, adding that the angry mob had demanded the handing over of the accused( Sulaiman) and on refusal, they had set blaze the police station and vehicles .
“A lot of material has been recovered from the living room of the accused and further investigation is being done in this regard,” the police officer informed.
The SP investigation said that a case of blasphemy has been registered against the accused Sulaiman, a resident of Sialkot district and the JIT is investigating the episode from every angle.
He said that a case of anti-terrorism including murder, attempted murder and arson has been registered against the mob members.
JIT FORMED
On the other hand, the KP government notified formation of joint investigation team (JIT), comprising nine-member and is headed by the SP investigations, to unearth the facts that led to the lynching of the alleged blasphemer.
On Saturday, a report prepared by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had described shifting the accused to the police station as the biggest mistake after his arrest from a local hotel where he was staying.
It added that the area SHO neither sought guidance from the local top officials nor ensured the safety of the accused by transporting him to some undisclosed place.
The police kept him in detention for 40 minutes, during which he refuted the claims of committing blasphemy, reads the report.
It mentions that the hotel management earlier asked the accused to open the door of his room and he had denied the charges there too. Later, the policemen picked him up and shifted to the police station.
Earlier, the authorities began an investigation to identify and arrest members of a mob that killed the local tourist accused of blasphemy, after they ransacked the police station, where he was kept in protective custody.
A mob beat the man to death on Thursday night after accusing him of burning pages of the Quran. They set the police station and injured eight policemen, Malakand Division’s regional police chief Mohammad Ali Gandapur told Reuters.
“After initially rescuing the man from a crowd, the police took him to the station in Madyan, but announcements from mosque loud speakers asked locals to come out,” Gandapur said, after which the mob stormed the station.
Graphic videos of the latest incident showed a frenzied mob dragging a naked and bloodied body through the streets, and then setting it on fire. The footage went viral on social media and sparked outcry amongst Pakistani users.
Gandapur said the situation was under control and a case registered against the organisers of the mob. He added the man had been visiting the Swat Valley, a popular tourist destination, for Eid-al-Azha holidays.
NA passes resolution condemning mob-lynching incidents
The National Assembly (NA) on Sunday passed a resolution vehemently condemning the recent horrific and tragic incidents of mob lynching in various parts of the country.
The resolution, moved by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, emphasised that the right to life is the most cherished right enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan. “Every person is to be dealt with in accordance with the law and not otherwise,” it stated.
The House expressed serious concern over the mob lynching of citizens accused of offences in Swat and Sargodha, noting with grave concern that such incidents have been on the rise. “Such actions cannot be tolerated in any civilized society,” it declared.
The NA urged both the federal and provincial governments to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, including religious minorities and other vulnerable segments of society.
It called for the provincial governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to take immediate and necessary measures to identify, investigate, and prosecute those involved in these incidents under the relevant laws.
Furthermore, the House expressed the expectation that the courts would ensure immediate and speedy justice in these cases, underscoring the need for swift legal action to prevent future occurrences of such tragic events.
