Swat Incident Trends After Man Killed For Alleged Blasphemy

An incident in Swat’s Madyan has caught widespread attention and gone viral on social media. A local tourist was killed by a mob for allegedly burning the Holy Quran. The angry crowd also set the local police station on fire.

This incident highlights the growing extremism in Pakistan, where people often take the law into their own hands over blasphemy allegations. Many such cases end in violence without any legal process.

In the Madyan area of Swat district, a man was killed by a mob on Thursday night. Swat District Police Officer (DPO) Dr. Zahidullah Khan reported that eight people were injured during the unrest.

The suspect had been taken to the police station, but a mob attacked the station, took the suspect, and set the building and a police vehicle on fire. Videos on social media show the mob burning a body in the street and gathering in large numbers outside the police station. The police are investigating the incident.

A heavy police force has been deployed in Madyan to control the situation. Madyan is a popular tourist spot in Swat Valley, about 245 kilometers from Peshawar.

KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has taken notice of the incident, ordering the provincial police chief to control the situation urgently. He also appealed for calm.

Former information minister Fawad Chaudhry expressed sorrow, saying, “We are hellbent on committing suicide as a society.”

Violence over blasphemy has increased in Pakistan since laws were changed to make blasphemy punishable by death. Between 1987 and 2022, at least 2,120 people have been accused of blasphemy. Last month, a Christian man accused of desecrating the Holy Quran died from injuries inflicted by a mob.

Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the Swat incident, calling for an end to “street justice.” During a budget debate in the National Assembly, he urged parliament to take serious action against mob violence. He proposed forming a special committee to investigate these incidents, stressing the urgent need to address the misuse of religion to justify violence.

This incident in Madyan, where a tourist was killed by a mob, underscores the critical need for legal and social reforms in Pakistan to prevent such tragedies.

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