ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday lauded Sialkot business community for transferring $100,000 funds and first salary to the widow of a Sri Lankan national, who was lynched in the southeastern Pakistani city in December 2021 over allegations that he had committed blasphemy.
Priyantha Kumara, who worked as a manager at a garment factory, was killed and his body set ablaze by a mob on December 3, 2021 over what police said were accusations he desecrated religious posters.
Sialkot’s business community raised $100,000 for Kumara’s bereaved wife and two children and pledged to take care of their financial needs. On Monday, the funds and the first salary was transferred into the account of Kumara’s widow.
“I want to appreciate the Sialkot business community for transferring $100,000 to account of Priyantha Kumara’s widow & Rajco Industries for transferring monthly salary of $2000 to her account — which they will do for 10 years,” PM Khan Khan said in a Twitter post.
Pakistani police had arrested dozens of people in connection with the lynching that sent shock waves across the South Asian nation and once again triggered a debate on blasphemy, which is considered a sensitive issue and carries death penalty in Pakistan.
Pakistani leaders, including PM Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, said at the time Islamabad had been working closely with Sri Lankan authorities on the case.
Top Pakistani leaders had promised accountability after the Sri Lankan leadership demanded Islamabad ensure justice in the case.
