A mob beat a man to death after accusing him of burning pages of the Holy Quran in Mad-yan, Swat. Extremists set the police station in the area ablaze and seriously injured eight policemen. As many as 17 individuals linked to the killing of the accused of blasphemy have been arrested. Graphic videos of the incident showed a frenzied mob dragging a naked and bloodied body through the streets and then setting it on fire. Lynching in Pakistan has become a pervasive issue in recent years, with reports of mob violence and extrajudicial killings occurring across the country. Causes and solutions to this phenomenon in the light of Islamic principles need to be sorted out. The roots of lynching in Pakistan can be traced back to a combination of historical, cultural, social, political and economic factors that have created a culture of violence and impunity. Factors such as poverty, illiteracy, political instability, deprivation, sectarianism and a distorted writ of the state have contributed to the rise of lynching incidents in the country.
Despite its prevalence, lynching is strictly prohibited in Islam, which upholds the sanctity of human life and emphasizes the importance of justice and due process. A comprehensive solution to the problem of lynching in the country must be rooted in Islamic principles and values. This can involve strengthening Islamic education and preaching the true message of Islam, as well as promoting interfaith harmony, tolerance and respect for human rights. The role of the judiciary is crucial in addressing and preventing lynching incidents in the country. Legal and policy measures must be taken to prevent and punish lynching, including effective investigation, prosecution and punishment of perpetrators. The potential role of civil society organizations, media and international actors in raising awareness and advocating for the protection of human rights is very important.
Mob lynching is having a devastating impact on our society. It has become a common occurrence, with individuals being killed for different reasons, including allegations of blasphemy. The growing trend of mob lynching in the country is a cause for concern and raises serious questions about the rule of law and the state of human rights in the country. Mob lynching is a form of vigilantism, where individuals take the law into their own hands and carry out acts of violence against individuals they believe have committed a sin or crime. The acts of violence can range from physical assaults to murder and are carried out without due process or the rule of law. In many cases, the individuals who participate in mob lynching are motivated by religious or ethnic hatred and are driven by a desire to carry out justice on their own terms. Lack of trust in the criminal justice system has led to a sense of frustration and anger among the people.
The widespread availability of mobile phones and social media has made it easier for individuals to spread false information and rumours which can quickly lead to mob violence. The influence of religious extremism and a lack of political will to address the issue of mob lynching are also contributing factors. Racial lynching and blasphemy are forms of democratic violence aimed at asserting majority dominance over the victims. Despite the fact that lynching is an illegal act, it is widely socially accepted and is often portrayed as vigilante justice. The trend of mob lynching in Pakistan has had a devastating impact on society. The acts of violence have led to a climate of fear and mistrust and have further eroded the rule of law and the state of human rights in the country.
The acts of violence have contributed to a sense of division and hatred, as individuals from different religious and ethnic backgrounds become increasingly polarized. This has further contributed to the erosion of social cohesion and the stability of the country. The lynching of two brothers, Mughees and Muneeb, in Sialkot was an extremely horrifying incident. Both brothers were lynched by a mob on August 15, 2010. The brothers were killed, hanged and mutilated in Sialkot with the support of local police and Rescue 1122. Mashal Khan, in Mardan, was savagely murdered by a group of students in an attack that gained international attention for its brutal and vicious nature on April 13, 2017. Mashal was well-known for his progressive views.
The most high-profile mob lynching in the country was the killing of the Sri Lankan garment factory manager Priyantha Kumara on December 3, 2021, in Sialkot. He was lynched by a mob over allegations of blasphemy and his corpse was set on fire on the road. The incident caused a diplomatic crisis between the two countries and sparked global outrage, resulting in a mass trial involving 89 suspects. Ultimately, six men were sentenced to death in the case. More than 70 individuals accused of blasphemy in Pakistan were murdered by mobs from 1990 to 2023. In many cases, the governments have been reluctant to take action against individuals who participate in mob lynching, for fear of inciting further violence and unrest. The lack of action by the government has led to a culture of impunity, where individuals feel free to carry out acts of violence with little fear of consequences.
—The writer is author of several books based in Islamabad.
