IN a most heart-breaking incident in Channigoth on the outskirts of Bahawalpur a ‘blasphemer’ was set on fire by the people.

An FIR had been lodged but no arrest had been made.

The people should not take law into their own hands but leave it for the law-enforcing institutions.

Pakistan has become an anomie state with lawlessness taking deep roots in the society.

The shameful part of the incident is that the police were there but failed to rescue the mentally ill man from the mob.

This shows the inefficiency of the police department.

The people who burnt the man did not, even for a moment, thought of their act as violence; rather they thought of it as an act of divinely mandated righteousness. But this iscontrary to Islamic teachings.

People have no right to penalise an accused by putting aside the law.

I was shocked when I came across people who were appreciating this brutal act.

This attitude shows their ignorance of Islamic teachings. This trend will solidify the basis of anarchy in our country.

Why do we raise voices against the West when they label Islam as a ‘violent religion’?

This is what we are practicing and portraying by our disgusting actions.

We ourselves are damaging the image of Islam in the whole world. Just think for a moment: “Are we true Muslims?”

MARIA MALIKChannigoth