UMERKOT: Police have booked a doctor allegedly for sharing blasphemous posts on social media after certain religious parties staged a violent protest to demand strict action against the suspect.

A large crowd of enraged protesters gathered in front of local press club on Wednesday and demanded immediate arrest of the doctor. They ended the protest after Umerkot SSP assured them of registration of a criminal case against the suspect.

Nevertheless, the protesters attacked a police mobile van and set it on fire. Police took action against the miscreants, took into custody over 10 suspects and registered a case against them.

Police authorities suspended SHO Altaf Shah for his failure to control vandalism and damage to government and public property.

Police officials said that a blasphemy case was also registered against the suspect at the Taluka police station under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The SSP told Dawn that teams had been formed to nab the suspect.

Umerkot and adjoining towns remained shut on the second consecutive day in protest against police failure to arrest the suspect.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2024