ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday announced a gallantry award for the man, who tried shielding Sri Lankan national Priyantha Kumara lynched in Punjab’s Sialkot city earlier this week, against a mob of vigilantes.
Kumara worked at a factory in the northeastern Pakistani city of Sialkot and was publicly attacked and killed by a Muslim mob on Friday over allegations he had committed blasphemy.
Blasphemy is considered a deeply sensitive issue in Pakistan, and carries the death penalty. International and domestic rights groups say accusations of blasphemy have often been used to intimidate religious minorities and settle personal scores.
In videos circulating on social media, one of Kumara’s colleagues, Malik Adnan, was seen confronting a group of vigilantes and making desperate attempts to protect the Sri Lankan national. He, however, could not succeed in his attempts.
“On behalf of the nation, I want to salute moral courage and bravery of Malik Adnan who tried his utmost to shelter and save Priyantha Diyawadana from the vigilante mob in Sialkot incl[uding] endangering his own life by physically trying to shield victim,” PM Khan said in a Twitter post.
“We will award him Tamgha-i-Shujaat [Medal of Bravery].”
On behalf of the nation I want to salute moral courage & bravery of Malik Adnan who tried his utmost to shelter & save Priyantha Diyawadana from the vigilante mob in Sialkot incl endangering his own life by physically trying to shield victim. We will award him Tamgha i Shujaat
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 5, 2021
The announcement coincided with the arrest of six more suspects in the lynching case.
“Punjab police have identified and arrested six more main suspects in the last 12 hours with the help of CCTV footage and mobile calls data. The suspects were hiding at the houses of their friends and relatives,” Punjab police said on Twitter.
Of the total 124 detainees, it said, 19 suspects had a central role in the lynching according to the investigation so far.
پنجاب پولیس نےCCTV فوٹیج اور موبائل کالز ڈیٹا سے گزشتہ 12گھنٹے میں مزید 6 مرکزی کرداروں کا تعین کرکے گرفتار کرلیا ہے۔ملزمان اپنے دوستوں اور رشتے داروں کے گھروں میں چھپے ہوئے تھےابتک کی تحقیقات کے مطابق124 زیرحراست افراد میں سے 19 ملزمان کا مرکزی کرادر سامنے آیا ہے@UsmanAKBuzdar https://t.co/lWuxBzmXVb
— Punjab Police Official (@OfficialDPRPP) December 5, 2021
The remains of the deceased Sri Lankan national would be flown to Sri Lanka on Monday at the “state cost,” the Sri Lankan foreign ministry said.
“The Sri Lanka High Commission in Islamabad has requested an investigation report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan regarding the death of Diyawadanage Don. Nandasiri Priyantha Kumara,” it said in a statement.
“The Sri Lanka High Commission in Islamabad, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry, is also in discussions with the Pakistan authorities and the employer of the deceased regarding payment of compensation.”
On Saturday, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed grief over the lynching of Kumara in Pakistan. He said he was “shocked to see the brutal and fatal attack” on Kumara by “extremist mobs in Pakistan”. “My heart goes out to his wife and family,” Rajapaksa said in a tweet.
PM Khan said on Saturday night said he had spoken to Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and assured him that justice would be done in Kumara’s lynching case.
