The incident took place at the town of Kot Radha Kishan, some 60 kilometres (40 miles) of Lahore, and is the latest example of mob violence against minorities accused of blasphemy.
"A mob attacked a Christian couple after accusing them of desecration of the Holy Quran and later burnt their bodies at a brick kiln where they worked," local police station official Bin-Yameen told AFP.
"Yesterday an incident of desecration of the Holy Quran took place in the area and today the mob first beat the couple and later set their bodies on fire at a brick kiln," he added.
Another police official confirmed the incident. The victims were only identified by their first names, Shama and Shehzad, and were a married couple.
Pakistan's brick kiln workers are often subject to harsh practices, with a study by the Bonded Labour Liberation Front Pakistan estimating that 4.5 million are indentured labourers.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has constituted a three-member committee to fast track the investigation of the killings and ordered police to beef up security at Christian neighbourhoods in the province, an official from his media office told AFP.
Blasphemy is a sensitive issue in Pakistan, with allegations often prompting mob violence.
A Christian woman has been on death row since November 2010 after she was found guilty of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) during an argument with a Muslim woman.
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Mr. Dean either you are part of the govt. machinery or bought by it. You do not see everything happening in Punjab only. Still appreciating the admin I think you are blind or well obliged. The purpose of campaign is to see judicial results and outcome of Asia Bibi case and the killers of the Punjab Governor and Shabaz Bhatti shame on you if you do see. The outcome of Lahore Basti case. No matter how much money you pay to show your generosity or buy people will all the people come back to life. Will the children ever get their parents back. That stupid Kadari is inspiring even police to kill people in the jail a pastor was killed under the nose of the CM and PM I think you are paid and bought writer wake up
Murder of Christian couple in Pakistan
The report of murder of Christian couple, labor at brick kiln, by unruly crowd has been circulated worldwide through national and international print and electronic media. The incident is said to be a result of blasphemous act that the couple had committed.
It is grumbled that the blasphemous act, in many cases, is misused by powerful and influential persons when they want to settle their account with their foes who happen to be weak and feebly settled in society.
The affected rather ruined family is grateful to those who shared with them their irreparable loss through words of sympathy. The message becomes more comforting, solicitous and consoling when we see it coming from a distinguished people including Ex-president Zardari, MQM chief Altaf Hussain, Chief of Islamic Counsil Moulana Tahir Ashrafi, MNAS, MPAS and many other renowned Islamic scholars.
Thankfully, in such a disastrous situation, we have a sensitive and responsible government. Chief Minister, Shahbaz Shrif, reputed for his alertness towards the administration, went into spontaneous action. He has established a high powered inquiring squad, has granted prodigious amount of money for the distressed folks.
Such timely, caring and generous attitude will not sooth the wounds of wounded only but also win applause and admiration from all quarters, in particular from the minorities.
Prime Minister, Mr Nawaz Shrif, is equally watchful of the incident taking keen interest. Many anxiously waiting for the outcome of the inquiry wishing the result to be full of retribution for the criminals.
Mushtaq Dean
Murder of Christian couple in Pakistan
The report of murder of Christian couple, labor at brick kiln, by unruly crowd has been circulated worldwide through national and international print and electronic media. The incident is said to be a result of blasphemous act that the couple had committed.
It is grumbled that the blasphemous act, in many cases, is misused by powerful and influential persons when they want to settle their account with their foes who happen to be weak and feebly settled in society.
The affected rather ruined family is grateful to those who shared with them their irreparable loss through words of sympathy. The message becomes more comforting, solicitous and consoling when we see it coming from a distinguished people including Ex-president Zardari, MQM chief Altaf Hussain, Chief of Islamic Counsil Moulana Tahir Ashrafi, MNAS, MPAS and many other renowned Islamic scholars..
Thankfully, in such a disastrous situation, we have a sensitive and responsible government. Chief Minister, Shahbaz Shrif, reputed for his alertness towards the administration, went into spontaneous action. He has established a high powered inquiring squad, has granted prodigious amount of money for the distressed folks.
Such timely, caring and generous attitude will not sooth the wounds of wounded only but also win applause and admiration from all quarters, in particular from the minorities.
Prime Minister, Mr Nawaz Shrif, is equally watchful of the incident taking keen interest. Many anxiously waiting for the outcome of the inquiry wishing the result to be full of retribution for the criminals.
Mushtaq Dean
To all our Indian friends commenting here - first welcome to the forum, your comments are accepted. Second, let's not confuse this barbaric incident with blasphemy law. Even though I don't agree with the law myself, it nowhere calls for a mob justice. So the blasphemy law had nothing to do with this case but this case has to do with religious fervor that is exploited by a few. Lastly, you have your own such problems in India where muslims are similarly executed just for being muslim. Need we remind you of the slaughter in Modi's state and the destruction of the Babri masjid by a Hindu mob? We must protect the rights of the minorities wherever they are.
@Nido: Most Sensible reasoning, top level Islamic thinking.
@Dr. Asad Sadick, Germany: the law on blasphemy was apparently introduced by Dictator General Zia
@truthseeker: You are digging a deeper hole. By suggesting this barbaric incident will provide as a deterrent you ARE encouraging it. That is what the mob did. I am sure each and every one of them knew they were committing murder but they wanted to teach a lesson. That is what your comments suggest, making you one and same as the mob. What should be stated is no one should insult others religion, muslim or not, but if someome does then ONLY legal action should be taken. There is no room in today's society for barbaric behaviour to teach someone a lesson and shame is on those who suggest it as effective measure.
@Rex Minor: "JOLLY GOOD SHOW!! The Raj left us with Colonial Laws designed to keep us bay, perfect for our current Masters. I always wonder whether we can ever be masters of our own destiny. And yes, the filing system for records at a Jhelum Courts is as old as 1856! So don't go around expecting miracles."
Agree with your observation, I made this unpublished comment some time ago regard the Supreme Court's inability to come up with what counted as impeachment parliament,
@noreen: Blasphemy law was introduced by the British in South Asia to deal with religious disturbances. The Blasphemy law was modified by Zia under the Hudod ordinance imposed in 1979.....
The present state of Pakistan and Pakistanis is such that they are afraid to even state the obvious, after numerous incidence of violence that have occurred after the blasphemy law was being discussed openly during Musharraf/PPP era. A resounding success would be an understatement, for people who support this law in one form or the other. This has exposed a critical weakness in our society and these affairs have set a precedence which will have far reaching implications.
@Dr. Asad Sadick, Germany: The blasphemy law was not left by the British, it was created in my lifetime.
Those people who have done this, they are using the name of religion in a wrong way the government should take action against these kind of people who are not worthy to call human they are worse than animals and animals have no rationality they have no religion so it is better to send them away among the human beings they should be send to the forest
Why in the world, a mother of three and fourth on the way would do such an act? She can't and she won't.. Kill those who killed them!
@rawalpindi kid
I know my comment may come across as insensitive and inhumane. You want to know what is more inhumane? Hate speech and the ridicule of faiths that mean the world to certain people. To explain my point further, let me go on a slight tangent and address the fact that I don't support people indulging in extra-judicial killings, even if they are effective deterrents against various crimes. To present an analogy, if a common mobile thief is burnt alive by a mob on the street, the mob should be tried and be held accountable. Nevertheless, irrespective of the moral implications of the mob's action, the fact still remains that it will serve as an effective deterrent against mobile theft. I'm not encouraging taking up the law into your own hand. Merely stating that the incident will force actual blasphemers to stop and think for a second before emotionally destroying other people.
As for Muslims ridiculing the faith of other non-muslims and hurting their sentiments, it is exactly the same thing and the former should try to put themselves in the position of the latter, and refrain from Blasphemy. A Muslim should not hurt others by the use of his tongue. However, since we are talking about the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, I don't think that the flip side of the coin that you suggested can be inducted formally into the legislation. Not ideal, I know, but thats just how things are I guess.
@ashfaq1: I am making no assumtions Sir! Democracy envisages the rule of law what the peoples establish and not what the monarchs, dictators or other despots willy nilly rdinate. The power is with the people, they must grab it and keep it and use it intelligently and wisely. No one should have the authority to desecrate the places of worship, be it mosques, churches or tempples- You give too much importance to individual characters. Your political and military leaders will act as the people want them to act, they are not super humans but are the only legal authority in the State to use violence. They are the causual factors of violence in the streets since they have given extended life to the colonial laws. Pakistan is not and cannot declare itself as an independent State with democratic order unless it does not declare all colonial laws as unlawful replacing them with laws which the founder of the country envisaged but did not live long enough to realise. We can only wish good luck for your land but the courage it must have to follow through education all the way.
Rex Minor
RIP Citizens of Pakistan, The People , the State, ,the Keepers of Religion took every thing from you, your Rights, your dignity and your Life.
Do Not Touch ! Primitive Natives in this enclosure. Do not feed them or speak religion. They will bite or blow themselves up.
@Dr. Asad Sadick, Germany: yaa.blame the brits...
Zia-ul-Haq must be chuckling in his grave. Pakistan has proven itself way beyond his wildest imagination.
Tribune failed to mention that this woman was pregnant with her fourth child........
@Rex Minor: you seem to be making wild assumptions here about state of democracy in Pakistan. The fact that it took less than 12 months for faceless men (establishment) to clip the wings of PML(n) government should give you some idea how difficult it is for new government to have a free hand at reforms and policy matters. One shouldn't forget that even Mushy with the country at gun point failed to overturn the bleshamy law. To all IK fans, things will be even worse under PTI if recent example of syllabus update (to make it more radical) in KP is true.
Muslims and Christians are living together peacefully. Such incidents have other sides as well which we dont know. Christians couple murdered, their property and all earning taken away by mob. Where is this news. Who is actually behind the game. The commiitee will never find the real culprits because unfortunately everything and everyone is on sale. !
@jamshed kharian-pak: Never accept that you can also be wrong always find conspiracy theories as all the people of whole world are idle have no other work except conspiring against Pakistan. True ostrich indeed.
For a moment, imagine Hazrat Muhammad SAW coming across a blasphemous act/blasphemer and I am certain he would have smiled and prayed to Allah for hidayat. To be honest we don't really follow the person we have such a high esteem for. On the contrary, through our actions we bring shame to the relegion he left us to take care of.
@Viqar "Desecrating anyones religion or abusing and ridiculing holy persons should warrant severe punishment, provided there is enough independant evidence to justify indictment and punishment."
Where does one draw the line? Who draws this line? Tomorrow, even the mere existence of a non-Muslim might be construed as an insult to Islam. What is a religion but the behaviors of its adherents.
@N A Layak: Why misquote Niemöller; he was the protestent PRIEST during the period of third Reich. The first order of the day for Pakistan majorty Government should be to propose a legislation eliminating the capital punishment in the country! This should be followed by eliminating all colonial legislations replacing them with ingigenous laws and this task should be given to a commission made up of experts in constitutional and criminal laws.
Rex Minor
@ N A Layak: I appreciate you for first knowing who is Niemöller and secondly, I thank you very much for giving credit to who credit is due. Rev. Dr. Martin Niemöller was a prominent German Protestant Christian Theologian and Pastor and vocal opponent of Nazism and Adolf Hitler and he said the following after WWII:
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out – Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out – Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Et mod. please allow publication
@sabi: Stop your usual crap about Mullahs or the religious clerics. It is not the Mullahs but the electotrates including individuals like you who have voted in the political hgh priests to form the Government which rules the country. Nor has the Government any responsibility to the self appointed Ayatullahs Patriarchs like those in Iran, their responsibility is for all citizens and not only those who brought them into power. Let them leave their seats if they cannot govern and not excuse their inability by following your example of blaming those who are doing their bit for the communities..
Rex Minor
@Ch. Allah Daad: Shame on you Sir NOT 'US' and your favourite illetrate and incompetent Government of Sharifs and the majority of the Parliamentarians who have not the competence to undertake reforms in Pakistan institutions nor the civil courage to legislate the laws which guarantee the dignity of each citizen in the land regardless of their ethnic or religious background!! This is not the responsibility of the religious leaders or the police or the overlords of the army but of the politicians who get elected by their constituents with a mandate, who must initiate and present legislations for approval in the parliament. Yes sir, it is the political leadership which must accept the consequences for their non actions and resign from their posts.
Rex Minor
Blasphemy Murders ++++++++++++++++++ Aadmi ko mayassar nahin insaan hona.Mirza Ghalib
@truthseeker. Shame on you to even propose this incident as a deterrent. This is exactly what is the mindset of the brutal mob. Your only concern is the legality of the inhuman action of the mob, but you are ok with this as a deterrent? How many times have muslims in our country ridiculed others beliefs, should they also take the lives of each and every one of those muslims as a deterrent? How foolish, insensitive, and dangerous your comment is - I hope you can see for yourself. These mob people should be punished with capital punishment so everyone sees that as a deterrent. God help you kind.
Zionists USA headed by the CIA are at work! Cia very busy in Islamic Pakistan are always in hurry to portray Ir Pakistan with such a negative happenings! Zionist USA CIA agents are responsible for their wrong doings! we the Muslims and christians have for centuries been living all together in peace cia please stop your machinationas!
@Raj - USA: You are spot on. I must say you have a keen sense of observation.
@sabi: yes either mullah or Pakistan,
With due respect to Niemöller:
First they came for the Hindus and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Hindu
Then they came for the Ahmedis and I did not speak out— Because I was not an Ahmedi
Then they came for the Christians, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Christian
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
I truly wish the murders are found and identified and beaten to death in return as well.
@Sam Smith
I don't. Probably, neither did the mob who killed the couple. That's why I said that mob should be brought to justice for taking the law into their own hands.
That being said, the truth of the allegations has nothing to do with the incident acting as a deterrent against people insensitively committing blasphemy in the future. May God do justice.
Desecrating anyones religion or abusing and ridiculing holy persons should warrant severe punishment, provided there is enough independant evidence to justify indictment and punishment. Having said this I would reiterate that there is a system whether civilised or barbaric, to apprehend and punish wrongdoers in every society. Society itself is measured by the system it follows. Unfortunately people in Pakistan many a times, choose to follow the barbaric path. Whose fault it is or how to correct the situation, is a seperate debate@Pradeep:
In Pakistan where it is well known that the Blasphemy Law is used and misused according to whims and wishes, no christian would dare to do such an offense as stated. This is pure fanatisim and sectarian hatred in the name of Islam. Utter madness. We Muslims have no moral and human feelings anymore. The irony is that the government and our law-makers are cowards to do anything about changing the age old law made by the British.
@Ex-PMLN: The people in the mob MUST be tried in court, they are the killers, NOT the deceased.
Two points: No rightwing political party would demand for the repeal of blasphemy laws let alone have a Dharna against these barbaric laws. The return for these leaders is little in opposing such laws and they are cowards not like Taseer and Bhatti of PPP. More importantly thanks to our fanatic terrorist nature and behavior even if blasphemy laws are repealed the mob justice would continue to enforce them on their own. Pakistan is bleeding to death with a thousand cuts.
@Ch. Allah Daad: @Jehangir: I have read many of Ch. Allah Daad's comments and noticed that he writes from his heart, tells the truth and has also many times criticized PML-N, the party he supports. Ch. Allah Daad is a truthful person with conscience.
I am ashamed how ruthless and inhumane we are....Islam never teaches us to go ahead with whatever we feel right....give them a chance to clarify....inquire into the matter....for God sake u barbarians come out of dis.....dn hurt our communities....Sorry Christians we are now governed by idiots and u have to face such barbarianism.....there is a special place in he'll for all those who committed this atrocity against peaceful people..
27 comments and counting as I write this.... Not one... not even one comment says that blasphemy is not a crime warranting execution (mob or otherwise). I was hoping for Pakistan's sake at least one Pakistani had said this. Alas! All the best Pakistan.
Oh please, this murder probably had nothing to do with religion. People in Pakistan are accustomed to taking out their personal grudges, especially with non-Muslims by using the blasphemy card. Pakistan is day-by-day becoming a banana republic, so sad.
Taking law in hand and mullah should be there to instigate-give the killers death at the same site to set example-WHERE WAS THE POLICE TO CONTROL THE SITUATION.
Punjab CM and his police gave birth to street justice.
local police know very well about each member of the mob but who cares ! cannot find words to condemn such brutal action -
This is the result of corrupt and unbridled custodians of Islam mostly moral degenerates incited by some person who bears a certain look we call Maulvi.If these men were doing their duties according to teachings of Islam we would have had a far better society. But that is not the case.These persons have all the vices and they were let lose by ZA Bhutto purely for personal reasons.This class was on leash before that. Nawaz and Shahbaz belong to this class and would never take any action against the perpetrators unless press and media in general keeps it alive.This desecration of Islam must stop.
This will turn out to be another case of false accusation over some monetary or land dispute. Why do so many such cases happen in middle Punjab? Something to ponder over mentality of these people.
There is no way one can justify this barbaric and murderous act, blasphemy or no blasphemy. Simply put nobody has any right to abrogate to himself the right to administer "justice". Every civilised country has in place a system to apprehend and punish criminals of whatever kind. Keeping this dictum in view, Pakistan cannot be called a civilised country.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Allah Daad sahib, you have said the right thing for the first time ever....
All of us are responsible for these atrocities. Each and everyone of us has this violent strain at varying degrees, some nurture it and are proud of it, some ignore it and some depress it actively. We may not realize the direct effect of this violence on ourselves.... This is the land of the Sufis, the Buddha..... All that was almost appears to be slipping away and so shall we if we continue to go down this path no matter how we justify it..........
@Muslim from KP: How much easier it is to simply state that the Mob was not following Islam. Why We dont want to introspect.? Why we are living as Ostriches while our heads bury in Sand. These people who commit such crimes are Muslims and we have to rectify that. Kindly dont run away from the responsibilities by stating that they are not following true Islam?. Who will define true Islam as Sunnis and Shias dont agree on one point and different sects have a different viewpoint.? Even Wahabis, Ahle Hadees and now Brelvis support such Mobs who kill anyone based on Blasphemy Charges.
What kind of barbaric people are we Pakistanis? R.I.P.
No culprit will be punished as PMLN government top members support such acts. Shahbaz Sharif never visited the families of the Ahmedi victims and Police even protected the accused and no progress have been made in that regard as well. Similarly this time nothing will come out at all. But i just want to ask all these So called Self-Styled Thaikaidaars of Islam that after these incidents how come Muslims of Pakistan could defend Islam as the Religion of Peace. We cannot simply state that it is an Isolated event as why Isolated events of Mob Justice dont occur in Christian countries but it is happening in Muslim countries?. Some fundamental teaching have to be changed to change the mindset otherwise we are not going anywhere.
@truthseeker: How do you know the accusations were true?
@Ex-PMLN: '...this is not the way to punish anyone.' Punish them? Somehow they were already guilty? By virtue of their religion? Being a religious minority? Guilty until proven innocent.?
Shame on us all. We are all brainwashed insensitive violent idiots.
.........and I am certain that the CM and PM will ' take notice ' means do nothing, and our religious scholars will look the other way, and our judiciary will sleep and dream of retirement and ' entitlements ' that follow a lifetime of not providing justice.
such insane people violating all humanitarian laws delivered by the UN and if they committed the crime why they are not presented in pront of justice.
Law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Such mob violence is unIslamic to the highest degree. Every act has to be properly probed to confirm if it took place or was a result of a misunderstanding or deliberate trap. Such mad violence outside the legal framework is highly condemnable. Everybody is innocent till PROVEN guilty. Shame on the intolerant violent mob
From a legal standpoint, the perpetrators of the crime, i.e. the mob, should be apprehended, tried and brought to justice for taking the reigns of law into their own hands. These self-appointed enforcers of the law should be made an example of.
That being said, let this unlawful yet effective public execution serve as a deterrent for those who toy with the sentiments of religious believers, test their patience and antagonize them by desecrating what they cherish above all else.
This is not the way to punish any one. I am a Muslim and I condemn this Mob rule. They should have been tried in court instead of on the street.
Waiting for idiotic comments like : "Tribune is trying to malign Pakistan's glorious image by publishing such news"
It would seem that these days there is no such thing as objective morality. Anything can be justified in the name of religion, so anything goes.
Shame on our legal system, shame on our Hypocrisy, shame on our thekedari of Islam, Shame on this tyranny and barbarity. And no one will be brought to justice as usual.
This is how they trump up the charges and then kill. Pakistan is no more the Pakistan that Quaid created. It is no place for Christians. All Christians should leave especially Punjab this happens in the land under Gullu rule. Where they throw flower petals on a person who killed the governor all under Gullu rule. This three man committee will do nothing it happens every other day
Very tragic incident. It reflects how worthless the lives of non Muslims have become is Pakistan. Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif are directly responsible for this incident. First, they followed the footsteps of their spiritual and political dad to make blasphemy laws as they stand today. Second they never punished a single fanatic. This 3 member commission is just another joke.
Shame on these ignorant people. Shahbaz Sharif will never find the culprits.
Can anyone name these so called COMITTE MEMBERS:..... Aproximately 5 billion 65 thousand of such comittes formed from PM Peackock missing to wagah border incident... NO RESULTS... good way to go...
(Sigh) What has this nation come to.