SAHIWAL: Kasowal police on Friday arrested a man and registered a case against him on charges of desecrating the Holy Quran at Adda Iqbalnagar.

Reports said Sub-Inspector Muhammad Ali of Okanwala Bangla police station was travelling with his team in an official vehicle when they received a call on 15 about the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran.

The police team rushed to the scene and found villagers protesting at Adda Iqbalnagar. Residents alleged that ‘Z’ would open the Holy Quran and sit on it. They said he had no source of livelihood and would subject his wife to severe violence whenever she tried to stop him.

Witnesses, including Nisar Ahmed, told the police that the suspect had beaten his wife when she resisted and asked him to stop. Neighbours later intervened, prompting locals to gather and protest over the alleged desecration.

The police team, assessing the gravity of the situation, arrested the suspect.

Police registered a case under Section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of SI Muhammad Ali. The suspect was initially held in police custody.

Speaking to Dawn, the Sahiwal DPO said the suspect appeared to be “mentally challenged and unstable” and had been unemployed for a long time. He added that medical tests had been conducted and there was strong evidence suggesting that the suspect was not mentally stable.

The DPO said the suspect had been sent on judicial remand.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2026