RAHIM YAR KHAN: Police have arrested a Hindu man on charge of blasphemy in the Kotsamaba Police Station.

According to the first information report (FIR), registered on Aug 11, motorcycle mechanic, a resident of Chak 75-P Tibba West, complained to the police that a Hindu man, identified in the FIR, would often give objectionable statements about the Muslims and Islam.

On August 11, he arrived at the village roundabout and started making objectionable comments about the Holy Kaaba, which, the complainant said, he could not repeat in the FIR because that would be considered blasphemy. When the complainant and other persons tried to stop the suspect, he did not stop from his action and fled from the scene.

On the complaint, the police registered an FIR under Section 295-A of Pakistan Penal Code and The Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960.

Police spokesperson Saif Ali Wains told Dawn that the police had arrested the suspect and sent him to jail on judicial remand.

Sources said that on the day of the incident, a mob had gathered at the roundabout of Chak-75-P. Some people tried to beat the suspect when he was being taken to the police station by the policemen.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2023