(Was it possible the 'mob' mistook the Sri Lankan as an Indian as the ill-fated victim was identified as Priyantha Kumara?
But justice in blasphemy cases can hardly come in Pakistan. The Section 295A of the Pakistan Penal Code which deals with
blasphemy is infamous for being abused by religious fanatics against minority communities – Ahmadi, Shias, Hindus, Sikhs and Christians.)
New Delhi:
Left embarrassed due to the mob lynching of a Sri Lankan in Sialkot in Pakistan, country's beleaguered Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday spoke over phone to Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa "to convey our nation's anger and shame" to the people of the island nation.
"Spoke to Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to convey our nation's anger and shame to people of Sri Lanka at the vigilante killing of Priyantha Diyawadana in Sialkot. I informed him that over 100 people (were) arrested and assured him they would be prosecuted with full severity of the law," Imran Khan tweeted.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said he was "shocked by the brutal and fatal attack"
on the ill-fated Sri Lankan and expressed the hope that Pakistan will fulfil the commitment to penalise
those involved in the killing.
"My heart goes out to his wife and family. #SriLanka and her people are confident that PM [Imran Khan]
will keep to his commitment to bring all those involved to justice," he tweeted.
The incident in Sialkot was the second such gory episode in the last 15 years.
Otherwise, Pakistan and Sri Lanka share quite an okay and normal type of people-to-people ties.
Pakistan authorities were left red-faced for the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team
bus in 2009.
Pakistan has been facing embarrassment by not being able to host foreign teams in the
cricket-frenzy nation. The New Zealand team had pulled out in September this year
after a security alert and only Zimbabwe had played in Pakistan last year.
Reports in Pakistani media said, Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister on
Information Hasaan Khawar said 118 people have been arrested.
Around 200 raids had been conducted and that among those detained were 13 primary suspects.
"I want to again reassure you that justice won't only be carried out but will be seen to be carried out," he said, adding
action would be also taken even if officials were found to be negligent in their duties.
Sri Lankan factory manager Priyantha Kumara in Sialkot over blasphemy allegations, new footage obtained by Dawn.com on Saturday showed that a colleague of the man tried to protect him from the mob prior to the ghastly incident.
Kumara was tortured to death and his body was set on fire on Friday. Punjab IGP Rao Sardar Ali Khan, in his initial report to authorities according to AFP, said Kumara had asked the employees of Rajco Industries, located on Wazirabad Road, to remove all stickers from factory machines before a foreign delegation arrived.
The workers had subsequently staged a protest on the factory premises, alleging that he had committed blasphemy. They suspended traffic and were joined by all the factory workers and a large number of locals. On seeing the mob gradually swell from a few dozen to hundreds, Kumara had dashed to the roof.
Footage shot prior to the lynching showed a colleague trying to protect Kumara on the roof of the factory
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