Punjab

Blasphemy allegations: Mob torches factory in Jhelum

Mob attacked the factory after accusing one person who worked there of committing blasphemy, sources say

Rana Tanveer November 20, 2015

LAHORE:

An angry mob set ablaze a factory owned by members of the Ahmadiyya community in Jhelum on Friday.

According to sources, the mob attacked the factory after accusing one person who worked there of committing blasphemy.

Heavy contingents of Police including the DPO reached the scene, firing rubber bullets to disperse the enraged mob.

— Punjab 2013-18 (@Punjab13to18) November 20, 2015 ">

Heavy contingents of Police including the DPO reached the scene, firing rubber bullets to disperse the enraged mob.
— Punjab 2013-18 (@Punjab13to18) November 20, 2015

Many workers fled the factory complex, which contains a residential area, with their families, sources said. But some workers were reportedly still inside the factory when it was set on fire.

The mob, meanwhile, continued to block GT Road in protest. Police were unable to disperse the protesters despite using tear gas and Rangers had to be called in for support.

Jehlum Rangers have also been called in for further support. One person has been taken into custody. Conveyed to CCR.

— Punjab 2013-18 (@Punjab13to18) November 20, 2015 ">

Jehlum Rangers have also been called in for further support. One person has been taken into custody. Conveyed to CCR.
— Punjab 2013-18 (@Punjab13to18) November 20, 2015

The police did, however, arrest three members of the community.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya spokesperson said three Ahmadis were arrested without reason. The spokesman added that he wasn’t sure as to whether those trapped inside the factory had been rescued.

Jhelum DPO Mujahid Akbar Khan was unavailable for comment despite several attempts to reach him.

COMMENTS (51)

Aysha Khan | 9 years ago | Reply What is wrong with this country? Instead of debating about this inhuman act of vigilantism, social media is full with tons of people who support killing of human beings, as long they are so called "wajib ul qatl". I really do not understand this. No wonder this country is not getting anywhere. Corruption, illiterateness and all the bad things happening there on a daily basis like violence and discrimination agains women, transgender people, religious minorities. I hear one good news from Pakistan, followed by thousands of bad news. It's just really really sad.

iDeffy | 9 years ago | Reply @Hashim: No mothers' Son can be a killer, murderer, suicide bomber or rapist either!

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Amir | 9 years ago | Reply And Nawaz Sharif government wonders why they have been kicked out of UN Human Right's body...totally clueless!

Imran | 9 years ago | Reply We are rushing towards stone aged period. Look at the world, always cheerful, patience, respect. Blasphemy law should be abolished as soon as possible if we want to improve.

TobeNoted | 9 years ago | Reply No one can dare to stop these radicals and these plight will sadly continue for ever in Pakistan.

Nasi | 9 years ago | Reply Mullahs are biggest terrorist .They must be finished

Dr,M.M.Khan | 9 years ago | Reply @munir: This is called mulah power. Even the state is scared of them!

AShaikh | 9 years ago | Reply You arrest the victims and disperse and forgive the criminals. This is barbarism in this age.

Tony | 9 years ago | Reply Sigh. Blasphemy-the victimless 'crime' where ideas are treated as more important than human lives. Sickening.

David Salmon | 9 years ago | Reply @Jan: Unless he did it to protect them from the mob.

Naseer Shahid | 9 years ago | Reply I ask all pakistanis: Is this Islam you want in pakistan? Do you want to follow these bigots fanatics to be your Imams? Which image is going out of Pakistan in whole world? As for as gouvernment is concerned, solution to people's problems is not their concern. O Allah send someone so strong who crush all rubish ans establish peace. amen

Rummana Shah | 9 years ago | Reply This is so disgusting and totally unacceptable. All the perpetrators should be booked for arson and attempted murder and punished as well

SHAH | 9 years ago | Reply @Hameed: Its a property acquisition scheme of Kabza Group... The owner does not sell on the forced and pressure applied on him, them Burn the factory and then offer some pittance compensation to the owner and then take over and build a big plaza on the plot. This is my Pakistan.

vinsin | 9 years ago | Reply Such incident can happen in any part of the world or for matter in any country. Question is what next? Will Pakistan civil society demand justice or will keep quite? Will a non-partial investigation happen or not? Will police and court convict the perpetrator within a time frame or or not? Will Media and discuss and raise issue till justice is done or not?

Zafar Iqbal | 9 years ago | Reply Shame, Shame, Shame

Abdul | 9 years ago | Reply What a sad day for the fight against extremism in Pakistan.

Vap | 9 years ago | Reply Yet lets talk about how intolerant India is ...

Mrs HighBall | 9 years ago | Reply @Imran Ahsan Mirza: Getting rid of these illiterate and crazed Mullahs can only be done by someone like an Attaturk. Just don't see it happening....

Concerned | 9 years ago | Reply They're the weed of the society, they need to be rooted out. Illiteracy is all over the country but seems to have a very different level in Punjab. It will require pants and boots, it is not possible in shalwar qameez.

tahira | 9 years ago | Reply A very sad incident, where is tolerance, what is the government doing about it, we want a safer pakistan for all communities, don't want educated, experienced & talented people leaving the country as one feels insecure in Pakistan, the government machinery should take steps to discourage such incidents of violence

shams | 9 years ago | Reply It is very sad & bad. Govt. of Punjab must take an action to control such incidents which are against humanity.

Abdul Razak | 9 years ago | Reply Hand over law and order to China along with CPEC, they will kill all the mobs without second thought. Here in Pakistan, the police is a party to the crime.

shams | 9 years ago | Reply it is very bad. It is the responsibility of the Govt of Punjab to think about such incidents and control. such incidents are against humanity.

whitesky | 9 years ago | Reply 0% tolerance for violence. 100 % tolerance for Blasphemy accusers & killers. very sad. one man allegedly committed blasphemy and the whole factory is burnt .This act snatched bread from all the employees& their family. what a great act. This appears to be another example of abuse of the law. vested interest is visible.

Baba | 9 years ago | Reply Why doesn't this article explain what happened. It appears to me that uneducated brainwashed crowd has again victimized the Ahmadies in the name of misunderstood Islam. Unless the State does something about the perverted blasphemy law innocent people shall be harmed and the brainless mobs will act just like ISIS. Shame on the country of idiots.

Ali Mohd. | 9 years ago | Reply those who talk about intolerant ( through ink / protest) about India have forgot own backward.

Akbar | 9 years ago | Reply Islamic Purity is important. Jinnah's Pakistan is getting purer by the day.

someone | 9 years ago | Reply Intolerant Pakistan. Let's see how many Nishane Haiders are returned.

Ali | 9 years ago | Reply Average day in the Land of the Pure.

Avtar | 9 years ago | Reply .....And, Pakistanis criticize some of the people in the West as Islamophobic after recent attacks terrorists in the name of Islam.

Indian | 9 years ago | Reply Don't worry about this, just talk about Indian intolerance.

David Salmon | 9 years ago | Reply This is terrorism, plain and simple, whether the victims are Musllims, Ahmadiyya, Christian or Hindu. To commit such violence in the name of God is also blasphemy.

Jan | 9 years ago | Reply Jhelum DPO Mujahid Akbar Khan must be held accountable - is he an idiot to arrest the victims , this is why Pakistan is the laughing stock of the civilized world

Kolsat | 9 years ago | Reply It is high time to get rid of the blasphemy law. This law has been responsible for murders and destruction as has happened in this case. In most cases such destructive actions are based not on proof but allegation. People have to realize that it is costing the nation money. Hope sanity will prevail.

Hashim Arain | 9 years ago | Reply No Muslim can do that. Terrorism has no Religion.

Sher | 9 years ago | Reply This is a perfect case for military courts. Please arrest the people involved and put them behind bars. The society shouldn't tolerate such mob phenomena especially religious in nature

Ammad | 9 years ago | Reply Our religion teaches us about tolerance and we are doing exactly opposite. Then we ask why world hates us? Ironically, we answer them through these acts.

Mehreen | 9 years ago | Reply I have tuned to ET and came to know about this news. But interestingly Almost all Pakistani Prominent Journalists went silent on this issue. No outcry on twitter and facebook by Pakistani friends. So liberalism is just a fake facade?. We want our rights as minorities to be protected in the West but that is what we will do with our own minorities.? Double standards to say the least.

sabi | 9 years ago | Reply Last, This sad incidence is a testimony to government resolve to up route sectarianism in this country.If the government keep silence and refrain from acting swiftly to bring the culprit behind this conspiracy to justice then be sure NAP is a show peace.

sabi | 9 years ago | Reply Mullah and Pakistan can not go together.Mullah is behind this conspiracy of false allegation of blasphemy and burning to ashes the factory that costs about thousands of millions.Government should make the miscreant who burnt the factory an example by sending them behind bars.

munir | 9 years ago | Reply The only blasphemy committed was by the lying mullahs who incited the mob, and the ungrateful mob that set their own place of work alight. Many non Ahmadis worked there for many years and will now find themselves without any form of income. They should go and grab the mullah by the beard and ask him who will provide for them now?

charles | 9 years ago | Reply I doubt many outside of Pakistan think there is a big difference between these thugs and IS - both kill/destroy in the name of Islam.

sabi | 9 years ago | Reply Now Mr prime minister give Ahmadis due justice as you said you are the prime minister of all community.You said even if Muslim will be tyrant I will stay against him and will give justice to the suppressed minority. We will see it now how solid is your stance.

Hameed | 9 years ago | Reply This reminds me of another recent incident in Dadri. People on both side have a lot more common than they care to admit.

Farah | 9 years ago | Reply May Allah protect every soul in this factory, ameen. Indeed, Allah is with them and all the prayers of the Jamaat. MANKIND: Zindabad!

Hasan | 9 years ago | Reply It is a very old and high profile Chipboard factory of Jhelum with a Multi-Billion profile and its owners were getting threats for longer time by its competitors to close it down. Finally these used the Religion to do it. But kindly do not complain afterwards that no Foreign investment is coming to Pakistan. If PMLN will not compensate the owners and will not arrest the perpetrators then one should consider them the partner in crime.

MA | 9 years ago | Reply And we worry and feel sorry for people being killed in foreign countries. Our own cannot keep from the same deed!!!!

Imran Ahsan Mirza | 9 years ago | Reply All rubbish. We all know deeds of anarchist Mullahs. Ahmadis cannot and do not utter blasphemy. All fabrication. May Allah destroy Pakistan's anarchist Mullahs and bring back sense to its power holders so it may become progressive country.

MJK | 9 years ago | Reply This country will not rise, as long as the people living in it continue to behave like barbarians. Illiteracy has a lot to do with it also. You cannot call yourself a MUSLIM if you're not humane first.

Hameed | 9 years ago | Reply

The police did, however, arrest three members of the community.

Yep, blame the victims to appease the extremists.

Hameed | 9 years ago | Reply Why do these Blasphemy incidents happen in Punjab all the time? What do Punjabis know that rest of Muslim world doesn't know?

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