At least 23 people arrested after lynching of man in Madyan district of Swat: Police – Pakistan

Swat District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Zahidullah Khan said on Sunday that at least 23 people had been arrested for allegedly leading a mob and lynching a man in Madyan earlier this week.

The mob brutally lynched a man who was arrested for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran at Madyan police station on Thursday evening. The mob then set fire to the suspect’s body, the police station and a police vehicle.

According to locals, some people in a market declared that the victim had committed blasphemy, after which others arrested him and handed him over to the police. Soon after, statements were also made from mosques in Madyan, a popular tourist destination in the Swat Valley, which drove people angrily to the police station.

According to witnesses, the mob demanded that the police hand over the victim and when the police refused, they forcibly entered the police station. The police officers had to flee to save themselves while further reinforcements were called to deal with the tense public order situation.

Videos of the incident circulated on social media, offering a macabre sight: some clips showed the Madyan police station burning, while others showed a large crowd surrounding the dead man’s motionless body before it was doused with fuel and set on fire.

This is the second such incident in recent weeks. Last month, police rescued a Christian from an angry mob in Sargodha after he was accused of desecrating the Holy Quran. He succumbed to his injuries nine days later.

On Friday, the Swat police had filed two first-in-command reports (FIRs). “We have launched an investigation into the incident to collect information. The police have filed two first-in-command reports, one against the deceased and the other against the mob for breaking into the police station, smashing and setting fire to gramophone records and vehicles,” said Regional Police Officer Muhammad Ali Gandapur.

Madyan Station House Officer (SHO) Islamul Haq had said Dawn.com that the FIRs were sealed for “security reasons”.

A press release issued by the DPO’s office in Swat area today said that a case has been registered against those involved in the incident under Sections 302 (punishment for murder), 324 (attempt to murder), 353 (assault or use of force to deter a public servant from performing his duty), 341 (punishment for false imprisonment), 427 (sabotage causing damage to property amounting to Rs. 50 lakh), 436 (sabotage by fire or explosive material with intent to destroy a house), 186 (obstructing a public servant in discharge of public duty), 149 (any member of an unlawful assembly guilty of an offence committed in prosecution of a common object) and 148 (rioting armed with a deadly weapon) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

“The case was filed against 49 known and 2,500 unknown accused named in the FIR,” he said.

DPO Dr. Zahidullah further said Dawn.com that a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) led by SP investigator Badshah Hazrat Khan had been formed to investigate the matter.

He said that the JIT comprises Upper Swat Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Muhammad Halim Khan, Madyan Sub-District Police Officer (SDPO) Syed Zaman Shah, Madyan Investigation Officer Inspector Muhammad Karam, Madyan SHO Haq, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Gauhar Khan (IT Investigation Officer-in-charge Swat) and officials of Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Special Branch and Intelligence Bureau (IB).

He said the JIT had systematically collected evidence showing that 23 of the named accused had been arrested in various operations the previous night.

“The identification of additional unknown suspects involved in the incident is ongoing,” he said, adding that further updates would be provided in due course.

NA adopts resolution

Meanwhile, the National Assembly passed a resolution on Sunday strongly condemning the lynchings in Swat Valley and Sargodha.

Law Minister Azam Tarar introduced the resolution during a session marred by uproar. He said the “harrowing and painful events” in Swat and Sargodha were part of a “chain”.

The resolution introduced by Azam states: “The right to life is the highest right enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan. Every human being should be treated according to the law and not otherwise.”

Furthermore, Parliament called on the federal and state governments to take all possible steps to ensure the safety of all citizens, including minorities.

It also called on the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to “take all necessary measures to ensure that those involved in these incidents are identified, investigated and prosecuted in accordance with applicable laws.”