Shop owner sent to lock-up for selling sandals with Hindu symbol

Mohammad Hussain Khan Published June 21, 2016

HYDERABAD: Tando Adam police on Monday obtained one-day remand of a shop owner for selling sandals carrying the symbol of Om, a sacred Hindu symbol.

Jehanzeb Khaskheli was arrested on Sunday evening at his shop in Shahi Bazaar, Tando Adam, and an FIR was registered against him under Section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Khaskheli was remanded in police custody by the Tando Adam court of civil judge and judicial magistrate.

He told police that he had purchased the stock from different traders in Lahore and did not remember exactly which trader had supplied him the sandals with the symbol of Om on them.

Tando Adam SHO Agha Shamshad said that about three days ago a Hindu woman had visited the shop and noticed the selling of such sandals there.

When she expressed her anger over it, the shop owner could not offer any explanation.

The SHO said that about three to four pairs of sandals had the symbol of Om printed on them.

The incident caused an outcry on social media, drawing condemnation from different people and rights groups.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2016

Pakistan

Mohammad Hussain Khan is a staff reporter and investigative journalist for Dawn based in Hyderabad, where he has worked since 1994. He covers governance, agriculture, and water resources, as well as health, the environment, and the judicial system.

Karachi sees sharp rise in ‘encounter’ killings as 200 shot dead in 10 months

Sindh CM declares Tharparkar drought-hit, orders relief measures

Karachi SHO suspended after audio of apology to drug dealer surfaces

Bilal

Jun 21, 2016 07:05am

First time sindh police has taken a good action.

Recommend 0

Mare

Jun 21, 2016 07:05am

Jail is a bit too much. The shop keeper may have been ignorant. We can't have draconian laws like this. We need to tackle social issues with a cool head. The skip keeper should have been given a warning and told not to sell more shoes like this, then if it continued arrested.

Recommend 0

Pokpok

Jun 21, 2016 07:21am

Good job. Respect to police

Recommend 0

Omar

Jun 21, 2016 07:40am

We need to respect all the religion and whoever did this needs to be punished

Recommend 0

Lafanga

Jun 21, 2016 07:40am

Go after the manufacturer of the sandals. Shopkeeper may be ignorant of the fact. Honestly I wouldnt know looking at the sandal if it had a Hindu symbol on it out of ignorance.

Recommend 0

Vivek (Indore)

Jun 21, 2016 07:52am

Didn't expected that.

Recommend 0

analyzer

Jun 21, 2016 08:01am

Thanks authorities.. and Brothers across the border for showing your support towards Hindus sentiments... Being spiritual is an awesome feeling... And everyone's sentiments are equally good. kudos... -- from an Indian.

Recommend 0

Cavalier

Jun 21, 2016 08:08am

Good job police. We must respect sentiments of all Pakistani citizens, no matter from which religion.

Recommend 0

anony

Jun 21, 2016 08:15am

Maybe the hindus across the border in India can learn some lesson from this.

Recommend 0

ABC

Jun 21, 2016 08:17am

Only option to ensure 100% justice in these cases is to declare Pakistan a secular state. Otherwise these things are considered as a goodwill gesture by Islamic republic rather than right of minorities.

Recommend 0

Chris Roberts

Jun 21, 2016 08:24am

Pakistan is a multireligious and multicultural society, and the laws must reflect this reality so that all citizens are encouraged to treat each other with respect.

Recommend 0

Jun 21, 2016 08:33am

@Mare I would like to see your reaction if same thing happens with your religious beliefs...

Recommend 0

Kazim Khan

Jun 21, 2016 08:38am

Did he know that it was a religious symbol? Did he make it?

Recommend 0

Ritesh

Jun 21, 2016 08:48am

Hope he gets the warning & not a severe punishment. Forgiveness helps bring people closer!

Recommend 0

Basheer DEST

Jun 21, 2016 09:04am

@Ritesh Highly appreciate your positive approach

Recommend 0

truthful

Jun 21, 2016 09:05am

Well a strong message has been delivered that no one is allowed to damage interfaith harmony in Pakistan. Who so ever is responsible should be punished. This is what Islam stands for.

Recommend 0

utpal

Jun 21, 2016 09:14am

It is quite possible that the shopkeeper may not know to read that language or the meaning of the symbol! Like me I can not read Urdu or Arbi or many other languages so I may do the same mistake without knowing the meaning. Truth should be revealed.

Recommend 0

bheru

Jun 21, 2016 09:19am

very good action taken by pakistan police

Recommend 0

Khan

Jun 21, 2016 09:35am

Poor fellow prisoners badly didn't even know what the symbol meant. But now he's in jail .

Recommend 0

Sudhanshu Swami

Jun 21, 2016 09:42am

He may or may not be knowing the symbol. He must cooperate with police and the manufacturer should be punished as he deliberately made that

Recommend 0

Syed Zafar Kazmi U.S.A

Jun 21, 2016 09:44am

He may be completely unaware of what was there on the sandals and he may not even know where he purchased them from as he may be having several vendors to purchase his merchandise from. It must be thoroughly investigated though with benefit of doubt to this store owner. He should not be unduly penalized. Great job Sindh police though.

Recommend 0

Muzaffar Qureshi

Jun 21, 2016 09:44am

Lock up is not good enough. Local administration should invite representatives of the aggrieved community and ask the culprit to seek apology in public.

Recommend 0

Hindu

Jun 21, 2016 10:03am

He should not be punished for this. A little awareness needs to be provided. There is no blasphemy rule in Hinduism but always forgiveness.

Recommend 0

canpakman

Jun 21, 2016 10:17am

Did he know what the symbol represents and who manufactured it with sacred symbol.

Recommend 0

Parth

Jun 21, 2016 10:37am

Had it been a Hindu doing the same against Islam he would have been killed by now in Pakistan. Still good to see alteast government has taken some action.

Recommend 0

Saifullah

Jun 21, 2016 10:58am

A bit too harsh to send him jail when he clearly said that he purchased the sandals from someone else. The sandals could have been confiscated from him without making such a fuss on this issue.

Recommend 0

Uncle Tom

Jun 21, 2016 11:01am

@Mare If he was a non Muslim selling shoes with Muslim symbols he'd be dead by now. So, Jail for a day or 2, doesn't sound so bad.

Recommend 0

Sandip Bhatia

Jun 21, 2016 11:13am

@Mare I fully agree with you, but how would have the public and administration reacted had it been say just a piece of paper with some Koranic inscriptions inadvertently torn by a non-Muslim.

Recommend 0

RDX

Jun 21, 2016 11:26am

@Mare Really. Thats your arguement? Would you have said the same thing had he printed the crescent moon with star symbol, holy to Islam? Or a cross instead? It is easy to ask for liniency when our sentiments are not hurt. The aim should be to mature together, so that our 'religious sentiments' are not hurt so easily

Recommend 0

Jun 21, 2016 11:27am

@Mare If any Islamic symbol or name was used on a sandal even in that case you would have made the same suggestion?

Recommend 0

Ash Kumar

Jun 21, 2016 11:35am

As a Hindu, I do not want to see him punished. My religion is much bigger than these things. Don't blame him really. He does not belong to a pluralistic society. I am sure he didn't even know what OM symbol looks like. "An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind"- MK Gandhi

Recommend 0

sid

Jun 21, 2016 11:40am

And believe me there would not be any armed response from the Hindus world wide. Not sure if Muslims would have behaved the same way if Islamic things were found on shoes.

Recommend 0

Sam

Jun 21, 2016 11:52am

I think the police did a good job. If it was the other way around, a hindu shop keeper selling some sandles with Islamic holy scriptures or names, he would have been lynched by now. So, i think its a good start to punish everyone equally under this law.

Recommend 0

democrat

Jun 21, 2016 11:54am

Good that prompt action has been taken. But why instigate others by insulting their symbols of faith? We should be bothered about our own religion than provoking others!

Recommend 0

Arun-KS

Jun 21, 2016 12:16pm

When something of this nature is done in Pakistan, people applaud because people do not expect such action from Pakistan. But if India slightly misses to notice this kind of provocative act, India is criticised because people expect from India. Pakistan do as if it does mercy on Minorities. In India Minorities have RIGHT of equality.

Recommend 0

Paksarzameen

Jun 21, 2016 12:30pm

put your religious belief or anything to do with once own religion on a footwear and ask the question.did it hurt you.or you don't know.

Recommend 0

TanBhartiyaMay

Jun 21, 2016 12:39pm

Pakistan Shining!!

Recommend 0

Ashok Saigal

Jun 21, 2016 12:46pm

@anony It is commendable that Police action was taken under the laws of the land and not by an unruly protesting mob taking the law into its own hands. I think and hope that if a similar misuse of any other Religious symbol, Islamic or any other religion, were to be done in India or in any other country, similar prompt action would be taken to respect the religious sensitivities.

Recommend 0

Joydeep. Pune

Jun 21, 2016 12:53pm

As a Hindu - I am cool if somebody prints my Gods or Holy words in their shoes or under-wear. What matters to me the most is the purity of heart and purity of thought. What right do i have to punish any body ? Love all and hate no one!! Amen.

Recommend 0

Pakistani

Jun 21, 2016 01:12pm

@Parth you are right and same would have been the case if a Muslim did so across the border.

Recommend 0

Pakistani

Jun 21, 2016 01:16pm

@RDX star and crescent has nothing to do with Islam.

Recommend 0

bkt

Jun 21, 2016 01:17pm

Well done Sindh police. Show us how much better and more tolerant Sindh is and how everyone is welcome here. Excellent step.

Recommend 0

raju Sitamau

Jun 21, 2016 01:36pm

Commendable actions ...

Recommend 0

Drs Sears Appalsamy

Jun 21, 2016 01:37pm

Muhammad al bin Qassim who invaded India with his warriors from 710 A.D. onwards would be happy for this man.

Recommend 0

Omair

Jun 21, 2016 01:57pm

@Arun-KS developed countries that actually give rights do not classify ethnic groups as majority or minority, all are considered citizens. You're certainly ahead of us but not ideal by any means, keep working stop boasting.

Recommend 0

Sha1234

Jun 21, 2016 02:00pm

Lock the guy in jail and throw the key away. Let it be a lesson for all others not offend other religions . Be respectful of all religions including yours. GOOD JOB to the Government of Pakistan for the quick action against this guy

Recommend 0

Ank

Jun 21, 2016 02:14pm

@Mare what if sign of yr belief there. Why so hypocrisy

Recommend 0

ROHIT PANDEY

Jun 21, 2016 02:18pm

@Mare Jail is a bit too much. The shop keeper may have been ignorant. We can't have draconian laws like this. We need to tackle social issues with a cool head. The skip keeper should have been given a warning and told not to sell more shoes like this, then if it continued arrested. Your comment and the 24 recommends it has got told me a sad story about Pakistan!:) Violent protests over Danish cartoons, Charlie Hebdo or whatever, but, a gentle rap on the knuckles for a gentleman who sells shoes with 'Om'on it. :)

Recommend 0

rocky balbia

Jun 21, 2016 02:17pm

@anony may be you should learn from.acrros the border Indian side..lots of Hindus you will find who fight for Muslims in India. But I don't hope that you will ever try see that.

Recommend 0

Shadow

Jun 21, 2016 02:22pm

Respect all religions

Recommend 0

abdul rahim

Jun 21, 2016 02:28pm

@anony .plz don't incite ,be sensible. Do you want communal root.

Recommend 0

Hamid shafiq

Jun 21, 2016 02:31pm

Today i am proud Pakistani where at least minority voice listen by authorities

Recommend 0

Jun 21, 2016 02:39pm

Action like this will certainly help to improve Pakistan image. Right decesion.

Recommend 0

Logic

Jun 21, 2016 03:02pm

His actions are of an uneducated & ignorant man His illiteracy is his punishment Hinduism is much stronger than the actions of this man as it has withstood Islamic barbarism for centuries & survived Let the man go

Recommend 0

Indian Samurai

Jun 21, 2016 03:23pm

@Mare : You are right.

Recommend 0

DMDIL

Jun 21, 2016 03:31pm

Bad record keeping is his problem. He should be punish for being arrogant on this issue. We can't ever insult anyone religious beliefs.

Recommend 0

zoro

Jun 21, 2016 03:35pm

@anony Read international papers and you will know .... please enhance ur knowledge

Recommend 0

Timeto stopthis

Jun 21, 2016 03:58pm

The shopkeeper is not responsible. Find out who produced those shoes and punish him severely.

Recommend 0

PakistanFirst

Jun 21, 2016 03:59pm

Glad Police stopped this nonsense and arrested the criminal. All religions and all Human beings must be respected.

Recommend 0

Zak

Jun 21, 2016 04:02pm

There are countries and people in the region that need to learn from pakistan. Just follow us and they will be on the right path.beell done police and public. No one should demean any religion.

Recommend 0

M.ASIF

Jun 21, 2016 04:36pm

Why to thank police for unjustified action by arresting an ignorant persons. I don't think he meant to show disrespect and outrage religious beliefs of any class. He was so ignorant to offer any explananation.Warning should have been enough, we must not blow our top off on issues such as this.

Recommend 0

Dethroner

Jun 21, 2016 04:42pm

@Chris Roberts not anymore.. 80's saw the end of it.

Recommend 0

OSD

Jun 21, 2016 04:46pm

This looks a bit harsh but at the same time we need to ensure that it doesn't happen again and so an example must be set. Good job Sindh police!

Recommend 0

M. Siddique

Jun 21, 2016 04:59pm

It is pretty dumb action by police. People should not buy it and he will go out of business. Next time he won't bring in to sell. Simple. Police should be doing more to save lives.

Recommend 0

Muhammad

Jun 21, 2016 07:50pm

@Arun-KS Ur comment is irrelevant here. No one is doing a comparison of India and Pakistan in this news item. please learn to appreciate if something good happens here. Indians need to change their mentality of being superior to others esp Pakistan. Having a positive opinion about oneself is good but feeling superior at the cost of degrading other is not just disrespectful but even cheap.

Recommend 0

Shaikh Abdul Rasheed

Jun 22, 2016 09:16am

In reality, the shopkeeper is not the real criminal but the first ladder to reach the responsible company which makes sandals carrying the symbol of Om, a sinful act. We want to see the responsible trader arrested and punished.

Recommend 0