IN what could be called an unfortunate and despicable incident, furious workers of a garment factory in Sialkot on Friday tortured their Sri Lankan manager to death over allegations of blasphemy and set the body on fire.
The brutal killing drew widespread condemnation from government officials and human rights bodies.
Describing it a day of shame for Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan said those responsible will be punished with the severity of law whilst Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa said such extra-judicial vigilantism cannot be condoned at any cost and directed all out support to the civil administration to arrest perpetrators of the heinous crime.
Indeed, nobody can be allowed to take the law into the hand as when decisions are made on the roads and streets, this only leads to chaos and anarchy in the society.
There is a strong blasphemy law in the country and if the Sri Lankan national had committed any such offence, the same should have been reported to the police for further investigation and action. Our religion preaches peace, security, brotherhood and forbids torture.
This very act of a group of people in Sialkot is totally contrary to the teachings of Islam. It is also not the first incident of its kind but such are becoming more frequent.
Just last year, a Hindu temple was attacked and burnt by a mob in Karak. Taking notice of the incident, the Supreme Court had ordered its rebuilding.
In fact time has come to take strict action against those involved in such vigilantism as these are also a cause of embarrassment for the country in the whole world and may affect our relations with other countries.
In the latest incident, justice should be done and those involved should be given exemplary punishment without any delay.
We have some extraordinary relations with Sri Lanka and its authorities must be completely taken into confidence regarding progress in this case.
Police incompetence should also not go unnoticed as if they had reached in sufficient number at the site; the gruesome murder could have been avoided.
