Media watch: Mob violence in Sialkot
Conflicting reports emerge about what sparked a public execution, while condemnation pours in for police, government.
Media watch is a daily round-up of key articles featured on news websites, hand-picked by The Express Tribune web staff.
Killing of two brothers by mob in Sialkot
Sajjad Butt and his relatives revealed that Mughees and Muneeb had gone to Buttar village on a bike to meet a relative early in the morning on August 15. They added that a dacoity had occurred there and the people falsely declared both brothers dacoits and misguided the mob which killed them mercilessly.
On the other hand, residents of Buttar village rejected the claim of Sajjad Butt. Liaquat Ali Bhatti, a villager, said that if both brothers were innocent then why were they carrying weapons. He alleged that both brothers with the help of their one or more accomplices had shot dead Bilal, a resident of Buttar village, and injured his brother Javed, servant Imran and passer-by Zeeshan for resisting a dacoity bid in the morning of August 15. (thenews.com.pk)
Sialkot tragedy
The very day newspapers reported the Sialkot double-murder, they also carried a news item about the awarding of the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz to the DIG Gujranwala, Zulfiqar Cheema, for “maintaining law and order”. The police officer, in whose jurisdiction Sialkot also falls, appears to do his job in a manner that is condemnable. (dawn.com)
JI says 'Punjab a police state'
It was a pity, they said that the Chief minister claiming to be the Khadam-e-Aala, did not deem it necessary to express regrets on the two incidents. They said the killing of two brothers in Sialkot in the presence of police officers was a blot on the face of the Punjab government and the law enforcing agencies and the incident had lowered the image of the country at international level. (nation.com.pk)
Video of mob killings sparks anguish in Pakistan
An armed robbery had taken place in the vicinity of the cricket field, so residents were on alert and police were nearby. Apparently, when the boys appeared with a bag, they were thought to be the robbers, Sherdil told The Associated Press. The boys were believed to have been in fights over the past few days for the right to play on the cricket ground. (gulfnews.com)
Killing of two brothers by mob in Sialkot
Sajjad Butt and his relatives revealed that Mughees and Muneeb had gone to Buttar village on a bike to meet a relative early in the morning on August 15. They added that a dacoity had occurred there and the people falsely declared both brothers dacoits and misguided the mob which killed them mercilessly.
On the other hand, residents of Buttar village rejected the claim of Sajjad Butt. Liaquat Ali Bhatti, a villager, said that if both brothers were innocent then why were they carrying weapons. He alleged that both brothers with the help of their one or more accomplices had shot dead Bilal, a resident of Buttar village, and injured his brother Javed, servant Imran and passer-by Zeeshan for resisting a dacoity bid in the morning of August 15. (thenews.com.pk)
Sialkot tragedy
The very day newspapers reported the Sialkot double-murder, they also carried a news item about the awarding of the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz to the DIG Gujranwala, Zulfiqar Cheema, for “maintaining law and order”. The police officer, in whose jurisdiction Sialkot also falls, appears to do his job in a manner that is condemnable. (dawn.com)
JI says 'Punjab a police state'
It was a pity, they said that the Chief minister claiming to be the Khadam-e-Aala, did not deem it necessary to express regrets on the two incidents. They said the killing of two brothers in Sialkot in the presence of police officers was a blot on the face of the Punjab government and the law enforcing agencies and the incident had lowered the image of the country at international level. (nation.com.pk)
Video of mob killings sparks anguish in Pakistan
An armed robbery had taken place in the vicinity of the cricket field, so residents were on alert and police were nearby. Apparently, when the boys appeared with a bag, they were thought to be the robbers, Sherdil told The Associated Press. The boys were believed to have been in fights over the past few days for the right to play on the cricket ground. (gulfnews.com)