LAHORE: An enraged mob beat a Christian couple to death and burnt
their bodies in the brick kiln where they worked on Tuesday for
allegedly desecrating a copy of the Holy Quran, police said.
The
incident took place at the town of Kot Radha Kishan, some 60 kilometres
southwest 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 hugely sensitive issue in the
country, with even unproven allegations often prompting mob violence.
Anyone convicted, or even just accused, of insulting Islam, risks a
violent and bloody death at the hands of vigilantes. |
Koran is not above human beings.It's man made.
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