Army chief condemns ‘cold-blooded’ murder of Sri Lankan national in Sialkot

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has condemned the “cold-blooded and shameful murder” of a Srilankan citizen in Sialkot and directed all-out support to civil administration to arrest perpetrators of this heinous crime.

Read more: Police say 110 suspects in Sialkot lynching arrested

“The cold-blooded murder of Srilankan citizen by a mob at Sialkot is extremely condemnable and shameful. Such extrajudicial vigilantism cannot be condoned at any cost,” the Inter-Services Public Relations quoted the army chief as saying on Friday.

“COAS directs all-out support to civil administration to arrest perpetrators of this heinous crime and bring them to justice,” the statement added.

The Sri Lankan factory manager, Priyantha Kumara, in Sialkot was beaten to death yesterday and set ablaze by a mob, police confirmed, over allegations of blasphemy.

Earlier, terming the incident a “the horrific vigilante attack”, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that he would personally oversee an investigation and called it “a day of shame for Pakistan”.

The horrific vigilante attack on factory in Sialkot & the burning alive of Sri Lankan manager is a day of shame for Pakistan. I am overseeing the investigations & let there be no mistake all those responsible will be punished with full severity of the law. Arrests are in progress

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 3, 2021

“Let there be no mistake all those responsible will be punished with [the] full severity of the law,” he tweeted yesterday.

Several video clips shared on social media showed a mob beating the victim. Other clips showed his body set ablaze, as well as the overturned wreckage of what was said to be his car.

Many in the mob made no attempt to hide their identity and some took selfies in front of the burning corpse.

Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar also took notice of the “horrific” incident and directed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Rao Sardar Ali Khan on Friday to “thoroughly” investigate the matter.

I am extremely shocked at the horrific Sialkot incident. I have instructed IG Police to thoroughly investigate it. No one is allowed to take law in their hands. Rest assured, individuals involved in this inhumane act will not be spared!!

— Usman Buzdar (@UsmanAKBuzdar) December 3, 2021

Law enforcement agencies later in the day informed Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat that at least 110 suspects involved in the lynching of a Sri Lankan national in Sialkot were arrested and more search operations were underway.

Read more: Sri Lankan factory manager lynched by mob in Sialkot

According to a handout issued by Punjab police spokesman in Lahore, a case had been registered under the provisions of the terrorism act on the police complaint. He also said that the role of the arrested people involved in the incident is being determined through the CCTV footage.