Jhelum: An enraged mob set a factory on fire in Punjab’s Jhelum district late on Friday after rumours circulated in the area and announcements were made from mosques that levelled blasphemy allegations on the owner and workers of the establishment. No casualties were reported from the arson attack.
In relation to the blasphemy allegations, police had detained at least five men on suspicion that pages of the Holy Quran had been desecrated by a few workers of the chipboard production factory. Four of these men were later released.
After this, certain people in the area approached local mosques to make announcements through loudspeakers against the release of the four men. Following these announcements, people not only from the immediate vicinity but even from nearby villages gathered as a mob and set ablaze the chipboard factory.
The owner’s residence, adjoining the factory, was also set on fire.
The mob later moved to the Grand Trunk Road, blocked the route and chanted slogans against the police. Members of the mob also clashed with police personnel as the latter tried to disperse the crowd.
Police fired rubber bullets and fired tear gas shells at the mob, members of which resorted to aerial firing. Three men were reportedly injured in this unrest. However, there were few policemen on the scene who thereby failed to control the situation.
District Coordination Officer (DCO) Mujhaid Akbar Khan reached the location and tried talking to members of the mob but that did not yield any results.
Subsequently, armed forces’ personnel were called in and GT Road was opened for traffic some six hours after the disturbance.
Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in Pakistan, with even unproven allegations often prompting mob violence and killings.
