PESHAWAR: A man accused of desecrating the Holy Qur’an was killed on Thursday by a furious mob in Pakistan’s picturesque Swat valley after it stormed a police precinct where he had been detained, confirmed a senior police official while sharing details of the incident.
Swat, known for its tourism, hosts thousands of visitors from different parts of the country during the Eid holidays.
Madyan, the location of the incident, is a major tourist destination alongside nearby areas such as Kalam, Bahrain, Saidu Sharif and Marghazar.
Speaking to Arab News, District Police Officer (DPO) Dr. Zahid Ullah said a man named Suleman Khan from Pakistan’s Sialkot city was killed by the mob after accusations of burning the Islamic scripture. He added that Khan had been staying at a local hotel since June 18.
“A tourist from Sialkot was accused of desecrating the Qur’an and was surrounded by people in the marketplace outside his hotel in Madyan,” he said.
After learning about the incident, the police took the man into custody at Madyan Police Station, but this did not pacify the large crowd that soon gathered, broke down the door and stormed in.
“The mob pelted stones at the police station and tortured the accused before taking him outside and burning him at a nearby bridge,” the DPO said.
“The angry mob also set fire to the goods and vehicles at the police station,” he continued, adding that 11 people got injured during the mayhem.
lainclothes police officers stand beside the burnt vehicles which were torched by a Muslim mob in an attack, in Madyan in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on June 21, 2024. (AP)
Blasphemy, including the desecration of the Holy Qur’an, constitutes an incendiary charge in Pakistan, where just an accusation can lead to mob violence.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Khan Gandapur took notice of the incident by ordering an inquiry report from the Inspector General of Police and expressed his regret over the incident.
He instructed the police to the police to take necessary measures to bring the situation under control.
Gandapur also urged the citizens to remain peaceful.
