ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government has decided to hold an in-jail trial of suspects in the lynching of a Sri Lankan factory manager who was beaten and set ablaze by a mob in Pakistan over blasphemy allegations last Friday, local media reported on Sunday.
In Pakistan, mere allegations of blasphemy can trigger mob attacks. The country’s blasphemy law carries a possible death penalty.
The decision to hold the trial in the case inside the prison was taken after a meeting between the prosecution team and the provincial government.
“The prosecution has asked the jail administration to make the necessary arrangements to conduct the trial [inside jail], while the police have been directed to complete the necessary legal procedures and submit the completed challans to the court as soon as possible,” the Express Tribune newspaper reported.
Priyantha Kumara was assaulted by a mob of hundreds of people and was dragged into the street and set on fire last Friday in the Pakistani city of Sialkot where he helped run a sports equipment factory. Workers at the factory accused him of desecrating posters bearing the name of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Pakistani police have arrested dozens of people in connection with the violence, and Prime Minister Imran Khan has promised severe punishment for those found guilty.
Punjab government says Sialkot lynching accused to be tried inside jail
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Punjab government says Sialkot lynching accused to be tried inside jail
- Sri Lankan Priyantha Kumara was lynched by a mob over blasphemy suspicions last week
- In Pakistan, mere allegations of blasphemy can trigger mob attacks
Pakistan drop express pacer Rauf from T20 World Cup squad
LAHORE: Pakistan left out express pacer Haris Rauf from the 15-man squad named Sunday for next month’s Twenty20 World Cup jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The 32-year-old finished with 20 wickets in the Big Bash League in Australia but selector Aaqib Javed said Rauf doesn’t fit in the combination.
“Rauf has played a lot of cricket for Pakistan but we kept conditions in Sri Lanka in mind while selecting the squad,” Javed told a news conference.
Rauf is also the highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in T20I cricket with 133 in 94 matches.
Salman Agha will lead the squad.
Another pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was declared fit and included in the squad with Naseem Shah and relatively inexperienced Salman Mirza the other fast bowlers in the squad.
Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka and will not travel to India under an agreement decided last year due to political tensions between the two countries.
Pakistan have been placed in Group A with archrivals India, Namibia, Netherlands and United States for the February 7 to March 8 tournament.
Pakistan open their campaign against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 7.
In the 20-team tournament, each team are set to play four group games with the top two teams qualifying for the Super Eight Stage.
Changes to T20 World Cup squads can be made for any reason until January 31 and after that with approval from the Event Technical Committee.
In the final build-up for the World Cup, Pakistan will face Australia in a three-match T20I series in Lahore on January 29, 31 and February 1.
Squad: Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq
