In Umerkot, Sindh, tensions surged after Dr. Shah Nawaz Kumbhar, a blasphemy suspect, was killed in an alleged police encounter. Accused of sharing blasphemous content on social media, Kumbhar had been on the run following a blasphemy case filed on September 17. Police claimed Kumbhar died in a shootout in Mirpur Khas after he and a companion opened fire while evading law enforcement. However, the doctor’s family disputes this, alleging that the incident was a staged encounter. Despite the ongoing investigation, Sindh’s Interior Minister, Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, has ordered a thorough inquiry into the matter.
Kumbhar’s death triggered a violent reaction from a local mob, who intercepted the body as it was being transported for burial. Overpowering the family, they set the corpse ablaze, and police arrived only after the remains were destroyed. The blasphemy accusation and Kumbhar’s subsequent death have added to the already strained climate surrounding such cases in Pakistan.
Surge in Violence Against Blasphemy Suspects
Pakistan has witnessed a troubling rise in mob violence against those accused of blasphemy. Despite the severe nature of the accusations, the law enforcement response has often come under scrutiny. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) voiced concerns over the “alarming trend” of extrajudicial killings by police. HRCP demanded an independent inquiry into Kumbhar’s death, stressing the need for accountability.
Just a week earlier, a similar extrajudicial killing took place in Quetta, where a police officer shot and killed Syed Khan, another blasphemy suspect, inside a police station. Khan had been rescued from an angry mob before being killed by an officer who was later pardoned by the victim’s family, citing religious sentiments. Such incidents highlight the dangers that even mere accusations of blasphemy pose in Pakistan’s volatile climate.
Growing Concerns Over Mob Justice
Mob violence fueled by blasphemy accusations has reached alarming levels. In a particularly harrowing incident last year, mobs set fire to four churches and vandalized a cemetery after a Christian family was accused of blasphemy. Despite widespread condemnation, such violence has yet to result in adequate prosecutions. Under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, those found guilty of insulting Islam can face the death penalty, but authorities have yet to carry out any executions for these offenses.
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Recent incidents, like the lynching of a tourist in Madyan over accusations of desecrating religious texts, further expose the growing challenges faced by Pakistan in curbing mob justice. The country’s blasphemy laws, while controversial, have become flashpoints for violence, with victims often facing harsh consequences even before their cases reach the courts.