Leading Pakistani Ulema condemn Sialkot lynching incident
Say killing of Sri Lankan citizen cannot be justified: Visit Lankan High Commission in Islamabad
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Led by Special Representative to Prime Minister on Religious Harmony Tahir Muhammad Ashrafi, the country’s leading religious scholars belonging to different schools of thought met with the Sri Lankan high commissioner (HC) at the high commission on Tuesday and condemned the Sialkot incident in the strongest possible terms, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Talking to the Sri Lankan HC, members of the delegation, including Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Chairman Qibla Ayyaz, other members of the CII besides Ruete Hilal Committee Chairman Abdul Khair Azad, Mufti Taqi Usmani, Allama Arif Wahidi, Qari Hanif Jalandri, Allama Ameen Shaheedi, Abul Khair Zubair, Hamid Saeed Kazmi and Professor Sajid Mir, said that the lynching of Priyantha Kumara, a Sri Lankan citizen, at a factory in Sialkot over blasphemy charges was a despicable incident.
They also informed the high commissioner of the steps taken by the government so far to bring perpetrators of the crime to justice.
Speaking to the media, Tahir Ashrafi said today he had visited the Sri Lankan High Commission along with eminent Ulema to offer condolences to the country’s high commissioner as well as the entire Sri Lankan nation.
Mufti Taqi Usmani said the incident had sent shockwaves across the country. “Sri Lanka is a brotherly country. And we express our solidarity with it,” he added.
Hamid Saeed Kazmi, former minister for religious affairs, said heads of the entire nation hung in shame over the incident.
Professor Sajid Mir, Abul Khair Azad and Hanif Jalandhri said all their sympathies and prayers were not only with the slain Sri Lankan’s family, but with the entire Sri Lankan nation.
They said that the Pakistanis would mark the next Friday as a day of condemnation.
Dr. Qibla Ayaz said what happened in Sialkot last Friday was not only the open violation of the country’s laws and the constitution but also of the Islamic teachings. “Those who are involved in the incident will be handed down exemplary punishments,” he expressed the resolve.
At the same time, he was all praise for Malik Adnan, the colleague of Sri Lankan citizen Priyantha Kumara, who tried to protect the latter despite the fact that the hostile mob was in no mood to spare him either.
Reciprocating the Ulema’s gesture, the Sri Lankan high commissioner said he was satisfied with the way the government of Pakistan had moved swiftly to arrest the culprits.
He also praised the people of Pakistan for feeling concerned and condemning the horrific act.
He also requested the government to compensate Kumara’s family.
Reporter Kafayat Ali Shah