ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal government has called special sessions of both houses of parliament next week to discuss the lynching of a Sri Lankan national earlier this month over suspicions he had committed blasphemy.

Priyantha Kumara, who worked as a manager at a garment factory, was killed and his body set ablaze by a Muslim mob on December 03 over what police have said are accusations he desecrated religious posters. 

After the incident Prime Minister Imran Khan called for a "comprehensive strategy" against mob violence.

Pakistani local media reported on Tuesday that both houses of parliament, the National Assembly and Senate, “will hold a debate on the Sialkot incident” next week.

“Senate session has been called on December 20 and the National Assembly sitting on December 22,” the Express Tribune said, quoting the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan. 

Khan last week said his government would not allow anyone to ever again misuse religion to perpetrate violence in Pakistan.

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.