LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday visited the family of a Christian couple burnt alive by a mob in Kot Radha Kishan near Lahore for allegedly desecrating pages of the Holy Quran.

The chief minister announced Rs5 million from the provincial government as compensation for the family of the deceased as well as 10 acres of land.

Condoling with the family for their loss, Shahbaz also announced that the Punjab government will take care of the couple’s three children and provide for their education and well-being.

“There is no limit to which this dreadful act can be condemned. The perpetrators will be tried under anti-terrorism and will be given harsh punishment,” he said.

On Wednesday, police arrested 50 villagers who were believed to be part of the mob that beat the couple to death.

Also read: 50 villagers held over burning of Christian couple to death

The arrests included the owner of the brick kiln where 25-year-old Shama, who was pregnant at the time of the incident, and her husband Shahzad Masih worked as bonded labourers.

Photo of the slain couple, 25-year-old Shama and her husband Shahzad Masih.—AFP

According to reports, more than a thousand charged people from three nearby villages tortured the couple before putting them into the kiln’s furnace on Tuesday. Police said a local religious leader had fanned the issue.

Kasur District Police has registered a case against 660 villagers, including 60 who have been nominated in the FIR, under sections 302, 436, 201, 148, 149, 353 and 186 of the PPC and 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and CM Shahbaz have already constituted a three-member committee comprising the secretary of minority affairs, chairman of CM’s inspection team and additional IG to investigate the matter.

Kasur police have also enhanced security of the Christian community in the village and in Klarkabad, mostly inhabited by Christians about 3km from Chak 59, the place of the incident.