Public ridicule: Man paraded in streets on donkey for stealing

Waheed was caught stealing a water pump and a wallet from a mosque.

TAUNS:

A drug addict was beaten up and paraded on a donkey by an imam and others for attempting to steal a water pump from the mosque on Saturday afternoon.

According to police officials, Qasba Sokar resident Waheed was caught trying to steal a water pump from the Sabzi Mandi mosque and was tortured and paraded in the streets by dozens of people. Eyewitnesses told police officials that Waheed was a drug addict and had wandered into the mosque while prayers were still in progress.

“He initially managed to swipe someone’s wallet while they were praying and later tried to steal the water pump. When he was caught the imam said that his head should be shaved and his face was blackened,” said resident Haider Jameel. “Dozens of people then beat him with shoes inside the mosque gates and put him on a donkey. He was paraded in the streets for over two hours,” he said.

“The man deserved exactly what happened to him, he stole from people while they were praying,” said Sabzi Mandi mosque imam Maulvi Rasheed Sabir.

Police officials filed a case against 30 people for beating up Waheed and arrested three men. “Waheed was badly bruised and cut when we found him but he barely knew what had happened to him,” said inspector Wajahat. “He is currently in the hospital being treated for his injuries,” police officials said. Police said that they would question Wajahat when he was released from the hospital.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2011.