Mob attacks dispensary, house in Sheikhupura village

Five held for arson; suspect arrested over social media post

SHEIKHUPURA:

A dispensary and a house were set on fire by a mob in Ghariyal Kalan village near Narang Mandi, Sheikhupura district, following allegations that a man had posted blasphemous content on social media, police said on Sunday.

Police sources said a resident of the village had allegedly shared an offensive post on social media.

The police arrested him following the incident, after which a crowd gathered in the area.

The mob allegedly set fire to his private dispensary and house after Friday prayers. The family was not present at the house when it was set ablaze, according to sources.

The police registered a case against the suspect over the alleged blasphemy and against members of the mob under provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act, according to the information provided.

A Sheikhupura police spokesperson said five people had been arrested in connection with the arson and that efforts were under way to apprehend other suspects.

The spokesperson said the FIR could not be shared because of the sensitivity of the matter. Police were conducting a transparent investigation, examining video footage, mobile phone location data and statements from eyewitnesses, the spokesperson added.

A former village council chairman, Naveed Ahmed Bhatti, said other Christian families also lived in the village and had not reported any problems or threats.

He said the families believed that if the suspect had violated the law, action should be taken in accordance with legal procedures.

He added that a

similar social media post had surfaced a few months earlier, but village elders had intervened and the matter had been resolved.