Angry mob storms into police station, lynches man accused of 'blasphemy', burns his body in Pakistan's Punjab

In the viral video, a violent mob can be seen scaling the large gate of Warburton Police Station and opening it, following which the crowd outside stormed the building.

Islamabad, Feb 11: A man was lynched and burnt to death by a mob in eastern Pakistan on charges of blasphemy.

According to reports, a violent mob stormed a police station in Pakistan's Punjab province, grabbed an accused arrested of blasphemy charges, stripped him naked, hanged him and then set him on fire.

The entire incident that occurred on Saturday afternoon at the Warburton Police Station in Nankana Sahib was caught on camera and it went viral on various social media platforms.

On Saturday, Muhammad Waris, a man in his early 20s, was taken into police custody for allegedly desecrating the Qaran, the Muslim holy book, police spokesman Muhammad Waqas was quoted as saying to Reuters.

In the viral video, a violent mob can be seen scaling the large gate of Warburton Police Station and opening it, following which the crowd outside stormed the building.

After this incident, DSP, SHO of Nankana Sahib was suspended. According to Dawn newspaper, the IG has assigned a special investigative officer and asked him to submit the inquiry report immediately.

"No one is allowed to take the law into their hands no matter how influential they are," the Punjab IG was quoted as saying. "Strict departmental and legal action will be taken against those responsible for the incident, as well as the perpetrators of negligence and incompetence," the IG said, according to the newspaper.

Earlier, a similar incident had come to light in Pakistan a few months ago when a Sri Lankan manager Piryantha Kumara Diyawadana was brutally burnt alive in Sialkot on charges of alleged blasphemy.

Unlike the Indian subcontinent, where Muslims in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are always out on the streets any time such 'blasphemy' occurs.

For the unversed, Blasphemy refers to speaking or acting in a way that is disrespectful or offensive to a religion, religious figure, or religious beliefs. It can include insulting or mocking religious doctrines, deities, scriptures, or practices.

Blasphemy is a highly controversial and sensitive issue in Pakistan, with blasphemy laws that carry severe penalties including the death penalty. Accusations of blasphemy can be used to target individuals or settle personal scores, leading to instances of mob violence and extrajudicial killings. The application of these laws has been criticized by human rights groups for violating freedom of expression and promoting intolerance.