Ashamed of Sialkot barbarity: Maulana Tariq

Visiting the Sri Lankan embassy on Wednesday to pay condolence over the brutal killing of Priyantha Kumara by an enraged mob, religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jamil clarified that "the religion of Islam does not allow such barbarity and oppression.”

Speaking to the media after meeting Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Pakistan Vice Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, Jamil said Islam’s literal meaning refers to submission, surrender and peaceful reconciliation, especially compliance with the divine directives.

Special Representative to the Prime Minister on Religious Harmony and Middle East Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi accompanied Jamil.

"Muslims adhere to the Quran and Sunnat and are required to obey their directives," he said, adding that the holy book says whoever kills an innocent person it is as though he has killed all mankind, and whoever saves a life it is as though he has saved all mankind.

The renowned preacher further said those who killed the innocent Sri Lankan national deserved severe punishment, adding that they were visiting Sri Lankan High Commission to seek an apology.

Read more: Six more key suspects arrested over Sialkot lynching

"The whole Pakistani nation is ashamed of the barbarity. No one has the right to burn anyone," he said. Jamil asked people to follow the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Speaking on the occasion, Sri Lankan high commissioner thanked both dignitaries for visiting and said that the Sri Lankan government was fully satisfied with the steps taken by the Pakistani government.
Ashrafi, while condemning the Sialkot incident, said the factory management has decided to bear all the expenses of the two children of Priyantha Kumara Diyawadana.

“The administration has also given a job to a Sri Lankan citizen in the factory," he added.

The nation was left shell-shocked on December 3 when Priyantha was brutally lynched before being set ablaze by a mob in Sialkot over allegations of blasphemy.

In the clip, capturing the events leading up to the horrific lynching, a colleague of the victim, Malik Adnan, can be seen trying to protect Priyantha who had rushed up to the roof of the factory as a deluge of people continued to flood the premises.

Also read: PM lauds ‘hero’ who tried to rescue Priyantha

Some among the mob can be heard chanting slogans and saying "he (the manager) will not escape today", while the colleague tried to shield the factory manager before being drowned out by the truculent and enraged mob.

Priyantha was then dragged out on the road and tortured with kicks, stones and iron rods, killing him on the spot before setting his corpse on fire.