Pak mob lynches man accused of blasphemy
STORMED A POLICE STATION AT NANKANA SAHIB, TOOK CUSTODY OF WARIS ISSA WHO WAS ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED DESECRATION OF THE HOLY BOOK
ISLAMABAD: A mob of youngsters beat a Muslim man to death in Pakistan on Saturday after the victim was accused of blasphemy, police said, the latest killing in the country related to religious sensitivities.
Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where even unproven allegations can stir mobs and violence.
A police officer said a mob stormed the police station at Warburton, Nankana Sahib, some 80kms from Lahore, and took custody of Waris Issa, who was arrested for alleged desecration of the holy book, stripped him naked, and dragged him in the streets before beating him to death.
Residents of the area claimed the man — who had returned after spending two years in jail — used to practice witchcraft by pasting his ex-wife’s picture on holy books, Geo News reported.
“The mob stormed the police station and beat the man to death,” local police spokesman Waqas Khalid told AFP.
Khalid said authorities were working on identifying the attackers responsible for the man’s death. Videos shared on social media showed hundreds of youngsters besieging the police compound, with one man scaling a tall gate using a ladder and opening its lock.
The crowd then barged inside and smashed windows. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered action against those involved.
“The rule of law should be ensured. No one should be allowed to influence the law,” Sharif emphasised.
Rights groups say accusations of blasphemy are often wielded in Pakistan to settle personal vendettas, with minorities largely the targets.
Pak govt approves new tax on power to meet
IMF conditions
Pakistan is moving swiftly to pacify the IMF with the approval of a new tax on electricity users, including farmers, to raise an additional Rs 170 billion in revenue to meet the conditions of the global lender.
Finance minister Ishaq Dar chaired the meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee of the cabinet which approved the imposition of a special financing surcharge of Rs 3.39 per unit in average power tariff in addition to quarterly tariff adjustments of up to Rs 3.21 per unit for one year and recovery of pending fuel cost adjustments of up to Rs 4 per unit for about three months.
The ECC also approved discontinuation of power tariff subsidies to zero-rated industries as well as the Kissan package from March 1 to fulfil other action conditions by the IMF.