Swat lynching echoes in parliament

ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR:

Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday during the National Assembly session raised the issue of the recent lynching of a man in Swat, condemning the harrowing incident and drawing the lawmakers’ attention to the problem of misusing religion to carry out “street justice”.

“Setting somebody on fire after killing them is unacceptable,” the minister told the House, emphasising that Islam did not permit the desecration of anybody’s body.

A mob beat a man to death on Thursday night in Swat after accusing him of desecrating the Holy Quran. The police initially rescued him and took him to a police station in the area. However, the mob stormed the station and set it ablaze, injuring at least five policemen.

Graphic videos of the incident showed a frenzied mob dragging a naked and bloodied body through the streets, and then setting it on fire.

Speaking during the budget session, the minister pointed out the increase in such incidents in recent times and said anarchy was spreading in the country.

Despite interruptions by NA Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah, the minister insisted that such incidents were defaming the country in the world and had to be stopped. “[These incidents have] brought Pakistan to the brink of destruction.”

Ahsan further mentioned an attempt on his life in 2018, when he was shot by a supporter of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan. “I am grateful that I received a new lease on life.”

The minister regretted that the country had reached a point where the people were using religion to justify mob violence as well as street justice — flagrantly violating the Constitution, the law and the state.

He pointed out that it was not an isolated incident but similar lynching incidents had occurred in Sialkot, Jaranwala and Sargodha too.

Ahsan observed that Pakistan was lagging behind in the world in the fields of education, healthcare and science. The minister demanded that a committee should be formed to investigate such incidents so that the country could be restored into a civilised society.

He added that it was the Islamic scholars and clerics’ responsibility to understand how religion had been weaponised to justify mob violence.

The deputy speaker told Ahsan that as a member of the cabinet, he should take up the matter with the interior minister and work with him to form the committee. He added that these issues should be taken up at cabinet meetings instead of the house.

In a related development, a 10-member joint investigation team (JIT) has been formed to probe into the Swat lynching.

Monitored by the Malakand DIG, the team comprises senior officers of the Counter-Terrorism Department and Special Branch.

Around 2,000 people have been nominated in the case — they will be identified through their cellular data and with the assistance of the National Database and Registration Authority.

According to the initial report of the incident, no noteworthy political or other figures reached the scene.

Overall 11 people were injured in the ensuing clash with the mob, including five policemen.

The enraged mob set ablaze five vehicles and two motorcycles.

The report added that the area’s SHO had failed to shift the man accused of blasphemy to a safe location.