KARACHI: In a rare case, police in Pakistan have booked Muslim citizens for attacking and damaging a Hindu temple after a student leveled blasphemy allegations against his Hindu teacher in Ghotki, a small town in the country’s southern Sindh province, officials said on Monday.
“We have lodged a case under section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code against 45 people who were identified through video footage and have arrested two of them for attacking and damaging the temple,” Senior Superintendent Police, Dr. Farrukh Lanjar, told Arab News, adding two other cases had also been registered against the rioters for damaging shops and blocking the road.
Earlier, a case was registered against a Hindu school teacher for allegedly making objectionable remarks about the Prophet of Islam, an allegation that triggered widespread riots in the area. “A case has also been registered against the Hindu teacher under Section 295-C, which deals with derogatory remarks against the Holy Prophet (PBUH),” Lanjar said.
Section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code deals with offenses related to religions, prescribes punishments for “injuring or defiling places of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class.”
“Whoever destroys, damages or defiles any place of worship, or any object held sacred by any class of persons with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction damage or defilement as an insult to their religion shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both,” it reads.
Section 295-B specifically prescribes punishment for defiling, damaging or desecrating the copy of Qur’an and section 295-C determines mandatory death penalty for a person using derogatory remarks for or disrespecting the Prophet of Islam.
The official said the law, which was on the statute book but hardly used for the protection of people of minority faiths, was immediately invoked in this case. “We invoked the law for the protection of minorities who are equal citizens of the country and free to practice their religion,” Lanjar said.
He added that eight people had been nabbed and raids were being conducted for apprehending others who attacked the temple and damaged properties.
“We took the religious scholars of different Islamic schools of thought to met with Hindu community leaders and apologize for what the mob had done. They stressed that such acts of vandalism were against the teachings of Islam. Those involved will be arrested, booked and severely punished,” Lanjar said.
Muslim rioters booked under blasphemy law for damaging Hindu temple
Muslim rioters booked under blasphemy law for damaging Hindu temple
- Rioting began after a student accused his school’s Hindu principal of blasphemy
- A case has also been registered against the teacher under Section 295-C
Pakistan’s National Assembly appoints Mahmood Achakzai as opposition leader after months of delay
- The position had been vacant for almost five months since the disqualification of ex-PM Imran Khan’s aide Omar Ayub
- Opposition previously accused government of delaying appointment, but government said that the matter was sub judice
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, on Friday appointed Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the leader of the opposition, an official notification said, following months of delay in appointment on the key post.
The position had been vacant for almost five months since the disqualification of Omar Ayub, a member of former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, in Aug. 2025 after his conviction in cases relating to violent riots in May 2023.
Khan had later nominated Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai and PTI’s Azam Swati for the post of opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate, the upper house of Pakistan parliament, according to the PTI.
An opposition leader plays a central role in ensuring parliamentary oversight and democratic accountability. He scrutinizes government policies, legislation and executive actions, raising concerns on behalf of citizens and highlighting alternative viewpoints.
“In pursuance of rule 39 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, Honorable Speaker has been pleased to declare Mehmood Khan Achakzai... as leader of the opposition in the National Assembly,” the NA Secretariat said in a notification.
Beyond legislative oversight, the opposition leader carries an important consultative role in major state appointments, including the prime minister, chief election commissioner and caretaker governments, and fosters dialogue between the treasury and the opposition.
The appointment of Achakzai, who also heads the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) opposition alliance, was announced after Speaker Ayaz Sadiq’s meeting with PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Chief Whip Amir Dogar on Friday.
The opposition had previously accused the government of delaying Achakzai’s appointment, but the NA speaker said at the time the matter was sub judice — an apparent reference to Ayub’s appeals against his disqualification in courts.
Ayub later withdrew his petitions and the NA Secretariat subsequently sent a letter to PTI Chief Whip Dogar in Dec., seeking details about the status of cases concerning Ayub. Dogar submitted the required documents to the NA speaker this month, following which the constitutional process for the appointment of the next opposition leader was initiated.
“It is reassuring to see that due process has been followed and Mr.Achakzai has been appointed as Leader of the Opposition,” PTI member Zulfikar Bukhari said in a statement. “Like Imran Khan, the entire party has full faith in him.”
