ISLAMABAD: During a meeting with the secretary general of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), on Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the lynching earlier this month of a Sri Lankan factory manager over alleged blasphemy in the eastern city of Sialkot.

Esala Ruwan Weerakoon, who is a Sri Lankan national, was on a four-day visit to Pakistan. 

“As the SAARC Secretary-General also hails from Sri Lanka, the prime minister strongly condemned the Sialkot incident and expressed condolences on the death of Priyantha Kumara who was tortured to death by a mob,” state-run news agency APP reported. “He said that there was no justification whatsoever for such acts and that all necessary steps had been taken in order to speedily bring the perpetrators to justice.”

The shocking and deadly mob attack on the Sri Lankan factory manager prompted days of soul searching in the country, with the prime minister and other top leaders declaring “zero tolerance” against such incidents and calling for a “comprehensive strategy” to tackle mob attacks. 

Speaking about cooperation under the SAARC framework, Khan told the secretary general the forum could be used to strengthen cooperation “on issues of common interest including climate change, education, poverty alleviation, energy integration, and health challenges.”

"SAARC could provide a conducive and beneficial atmosphere to build economic synergies, transforming the quality of life of people in South Asian," the PM said.

Khan appreciated the SAARC secretary-general’s efforts to “improve and promote SAARC processes” and assured him of the continued support of the government of Pakistan in strengthening regional cooperation under the SAARC ambit.

“He also expressed hope to host SAARC Summit in Pakistan when artificial obstacles created in its way would be removed,” APP said, in a veiled reference to India, Pakistan's arch-foe which is also a member of the body.