ISLAMABAD: A middle-aged man was stoned to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy in a remote village in Khanewal district on Saturday, Pakistani media widely reported on Sunday.
The killing comes just months after a mob of factory employees tortured and burned a Sri Lankan manager in Sialkot in December over apparent blasphemy in a "horrific" attack that Prime Minister Imran Khan said had brought shame on the country.
The incident drew nationwide condemnation and authorities arrested dozens of people over involvement in the killing of Priyantha Kumara. Those linked to Kumara’s murder are facing a trial in Pakistan.
“The Saturday incident took place in Jungle Dera village where hundreds of locals gathered after Maghrib prayers following announcements that a man had torn some pages of the Holy Quran and later set them on fire,” Dawn newspaper reported. “The villagers first hanged him with a tree and then hit him with bricks, until he died.”
The Express Tribune newspaper reported that the accused, who claimed innocence, had been in police custody but was allowed to leave the police station even though an angry mob was present outside.
“Taking notice of the incident, IG Punjab Rao Sardar Ali Khan sought a report from Additional IG South Punjab over the incident,” Tribune said. “He also directed RPO Multan to conduct a thorough inquiry in this regard and ordered DPO Khanewal to reach the affected location as soon as possible.”
Mob killings over accusations of blasphemy - a crime that can carry the death sentence - have been frequent in Muslim-majority Pakistan.
In January this year, a Pakistani court sentenced a Muslim woman to death after finding her guilty of blasphemy for insulting Islam’s Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
The woman, Aneeqa Atteeq, was arrested in May 2020 after the man alerted police that she sent him offensive caricatures via WhatsApp.
Under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting the religion or religious figures can be sentenced to death. While authorities have yet to carry out a death sentence for blasphemy, just the accusation can cause riots.
Pakistani man lynched over alleged blasphemy in Khanewal village
https://arab.news/njg6e
Pakistani man lynched over alleged blasphemy in Khanewal village
- Media reports accused was in police custody but was allowed to exit police station even though angry mob waited outside
- Incident comes months after mob tortured and burned Sri Lankan factory manager in Sialkot over apparent blasphemy
Kazakh president in Pakistan on two-day visit to discuss trade, connectivity, bilateral ties
- Pakistan, Kazakhstan share strong ties and strategic partnership, with Islamabad offering landlocked Central Asian republics access to key seaports
- The visit reflects mutual commitment to transforming historic affinities into robust cooperation, shared desire for peace and progress, Islamabad says
ISLAMABAD: Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Tuesday arrived in Pakistan on a two-day official visit to hold talks with the country’s leadership on trade, regional connectivity and bilateral cooperation, according to the Pakistani foreign ministry.
Tokayev is visiting Pakistan, along with a delegation comprising cabinet ministers and high-ranking officials, on the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to the Pakistani foreign ministry.
The visit reflects the strengthening bonds between Pakistan and Kazakhstan, their mutual commitment to transforming historic and cultural affinities into robust cooperation, and their common desire for peace and progress in the region.
Pakistan state television broadcaster footage of PM Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari welcoming President Tokayev upon arrival at Noor Khan Air Base in the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi on Tuesday evening.
"The visit will provide the two sides an important and timely opportunity to undertake a comprehensive review of bilateral relations, discuss new avenues for broadening cooperation, particularly in trade, logistics, regional connectivity, people-to-people contacts, and explore collaboration at regional and international forums," the Pakistani foreign ministry said.
Relations between Pakistan and Kazakhstan are rooted in shared Islamic heritage and a growing strategic partnership, with Pakistan offering landlocked Central Asian republics access to southern seaports for global trade. Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize Kazakhstan when it gained independence in December 1991 and formally established diplomatic relations with it on Feb. 24, 1992.
The two countries have held regular interactions over the past couple of years on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meetings and other international events. Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister Murat Nurtleu visited Pakistan in September 2025 to discuss economic and trade cooperation with Islamabad.
Islamabad and Astana engage with each other to promote business and political ties via three forums mainly, which are: Bilateral Political Consultations, the Intergovernmental Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation, and the Joint Business Council.
According to the government of Kazakhstan, bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to $53.7 million in 2024. Pakistan's main exports to Kazakhstan include citrus fruits, pharmaceutical products, garments, soap, sports equipment and gear and others.
Kazakhstan’s exports to Pakistan primarily include onions and garlic, dried leguminous vegetables, oats, buckwheat and other cereal grains, seeds and fruits of other oil-bearing crops, among others.
