LAHORE – The lynching of a foreigner in Sialkot on Friday prompted a strong reaction on social media, with people demanding stern action to curb growing extremism in the country.
The Sri Lankan citizen, who worked as an export manager at a sportswear factory, was tortured to death in Sialkot and his body was set on fire by factory workers after he was accused of blasphemy.
The incident took place on Wazirabad Road, Sialkot, where factory workers lynched the man identified as Priyantha Kumara. Initial reports suggest the deceased man reportedly tore a poster containing a religious inscription on it. Footage doing rounds on the internet show hundreds of people gathered at the crime scene.
Taking action, Punjab Police have arrested more than 50 suspects. Focal Person to Puanjab CM Azhar Mashwani said that remaining culprits were being identified with the help of CCTV footage and NADRA’s face recognition system.
However, the brutal incident has drawn public ire as people are calling it “horrifying” and unacceptable.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s former aide Zulfi Bukhari said, “We’re an embarrassed nation today. Mob lynching of a Sri Lankan national in #Sialkot is simply beneath the lowest of inhumanity”.
“There’s no religion that believes in or preaches such brutality, let alone #Islam. We must bring all those responsible to justice,” he wrote on Twitter.
We’re an embarrassed nation today. Mob lynching of a Srilankan national in #Sialkot is simply beneath the lowest of inhumanity.
There’s no religion that believes in or preaches such brutality, let alone #Islam.
We must bring all those responsible to justice.— Sayed Z Bukhari (@sayedzbukhari) December 3, 2021
Actor Mahira Khan wrote, “Ashamed!! Sick to my stomach!! Looking at you @ImranKhanPTI for answers, for justice and to take away this menace from our country.”
Ashamed!! Sick to my stomach!! Looking at you @ImranKhanPTI for answers, for justice and to take away this menace from our country. #Sialkot
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) December 3, 2021
The amount of radicalisation and intolerance that has transgressed into the society can be very well measured by what happened in Sialkot – Absolutely horrific – Our heads should hang in shame. #Pakistan
— Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) December 3, 2021
Mere notices won’t work,the society is becoming extremist and unfortunately the negligence of gvt and extremist policies of the state over the years make this country intolerant.when and how will we learn and whom to blame?#Sialkot
— Asma Shirazi (@asmashirazi) December 3, 2021
Shame on us, Shame on those who brought this day on us. #Sialkot
— Shafaat Ali (@iamshafaatali) December 3, 2021
We are doomed. Doomed. Doomed. There is no way Pakistan can prosper if this is allowed to happen. No one will set foot in our country, all the good people will leave, only animals will continue to roam in it. #Sialkot
— Mahwash Ajaz 🇵🇰 (@mahwashajaz_) December 3, 2021
Black day in Pakistan's history – Horrifying and shameful incident in #Sialkot
— Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat) December 3, 2021
Sri Lankan manager tortured to death at Sialkot factory over ‘blasphemy’
