17 more arrested in Swat mob lynching incident

23 suspects have so far been arrested as police continue crackdown

The Peshawar police with the help of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and Special Branch arrested another 17 individuals linked to the killing incident of a man accused of blasphemy in Swat.

Following today's arrest, the number of detainees has reached 23. The action against the suspects was taken in different tehsils of Swat.

Authorities have already begun an investigation to identify and arrest members of the mob that beat a man to death on Thursday night after accusing him of burning pages of the Holy Qur'an.

The mob had also set the police station in the area ablaze and injured eight policemen, Malakand division's regional police chief Mohammad Ali Gandapur told Reuters.

Graphic videos of the latest incident showed a frenzied mob dragging a naked and bloodied body through the streets, and then setting it on fire. The footage went viral on social media and sparked outcry amongst Pakistani users.

The 10-member JIT, comprising officials from the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Special Branch, and senior police officers, monitored by Malakand Division Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police was formed to probe the incident.

The case involves approximately 2,000 individuals, and their identification will be aided by cellular data and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

Preliminary investigation reports indicate that no political or high-ranking figures were present at the scene.

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.