ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has said all key suspects involved in the lynching of a Sri Lankan man in Sialkot last week over alleged blasphemy had been arrested while clerics from the All Pakistan Ulema Council with representation from all sects said Friday would be observed as a “day of condemnation” against the killing.
Priyantha Kumara, who worked as a manager at a garment factory in the city of Sialkot, was attacked and killed by a Muslim mob last Friday. The crowd also publicly burned his body over what police have said are accusations he desecrated religious posters.
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.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Qari Hafeez Jalandhari, general secretary of the Wafaq-ul-Madaris, requested all religious scholars to reiterate the “true teaching” of Islam during the Friday sermon at mosques and imam bargahs across the country as part of the “day of condemnation.”
“We want clerics to remind people that Islam is the religion of peace and love,” he said. “We want them to remind people of the rights of minorities.”
On Tuesday, while addressing a memorial service for Kumara, Prime Minister Imran Khan said: “The government will not spare anyone who tries to use religion, particularly the name of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), to sommit violence. Such instances will not be allowed to take place on my watch.”
The prime minister also presented a certificate of appreciation to Malik Adnan, an employee in Sialkot who tried to shield Kumara from the mob.
“One moral man is an army,” Khan said as he praised Adnan for his bravery and called him an inspiration for Pakistani youth.
Adnan said he was dedicating the award to Kumara and the people of Sri Lanka.
“Today I am very proud and my message to the nation is that whenever you encounter such a situation, always stand with the oppressed,” Adnan said, adding that this was the lesson he had been taught by his parents and teachers.
Meeting with religious leaders on Tuesday, the high commissioner to Pakistan from Sri Lanka said his government was “very satisfied” with the steps taken by the government of Pakistan since the incident, which he added would not affect relations between the two countries.
Pakistan says key suspects in Sialkot lynching arrested, Friday announced as ‘day of condemnation’
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Pakistan says key suspects in Sialkot lynching arrested, Friday announced as ‘day of condemnation’
- Priyantha Kumara, a factory manager in city of Sialkot, was attacked and killed by a Muslim mob last Friday
- Ulema Counsil requests scholars to reiterate teaching of Islam during Friday sermons at mosques and imam bargahs
Pakistan, UK discuss regional security, cross-border attacks as senior official visits Islamabad
- British envoy for Afghanistan Richard Lindsay’s visit comes at a time of a surge in militancy in Pakistan’s border regions
- Pakistani diplomat says both sides reviewed broader security challenges, emphasized coordination to address ‘shared concerns’
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and British officials have discussed regional security challenges and cross-border attacks during talks in Islamabad, a Pakistani diplomat said on Tuesday, during a visit of the United Kingdom’s Afghanistan envoy, Richard Lindsay, to the Pakistani capital.
Pakistan and the UK regularly cooperate on counterterrorism and security, with a focus on intelligence-sharing to combat militant activity. Lindsay’s visit comes at a time of a rise in militancy in Pakistan’s western provinces, which border Afghanistan.
Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, said the discussions in Islamabad focused on the regional security situation, particularly the urgent challenge posed by cross-border attacks.
“We also exchanged views on the latest regional security developments and broader security challenges,” he said on X. “We emphasized the importance of continued cooperation and coordination to address shared concerns and promote regional stability.”
Islamabad frequently accuses Afghanistan of allowing its soil and India of backing militant groups, such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), for attacks against Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi deny this.
In recent years, Pakistan and the UK have engaged with each other on counterterrorism and cross-border crimes as part of bilateral cooperation.
Both sides held the second round of the Pakistan-UK Counter Terrorism Dialogue in London in February last year, reviewing global and regional threats and exchanging best practices. Over the years, armed forces of both countries have also maintained close cooperation, particularly in counterterrorism efforts and professional military training.
