By In Quetta, a police officer is accused of killing a man in custody on blasphemy charges. Senior Superintendent of Police Muhammad Baloch confirmed that the officer was arrested after gaining access to the police station by pretending to be a relative of the suspect and then shooting him.
The man, who had been detained earlier in the week due to threats from an angry mob demanding his handover, was moved to a more secure location. The mob, comprising Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) supporters and other religious groups, had previously blocked the western bypass and attacked the Kharotabad police station with a grenade, causing no casualties.
An FIR was filed against the blasphemy suspect, who allegedly used offensive language against the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). This led to widespread protests and criticism. Police confirmed that an investigation was underway and efforts were made to control the protests, which eventually dispersed.
In response to the incident, JUI-P Senator Abdul Shakoor Khan expressed support for the police officer and criticized the legal system. He pledged to cover the officer’s legal expenses and condemned the extended trial periods for blasphemy cases.
In related incidents, a Christian man in Sargodha was lynched by a mob earlier this year following allegations of desecration of the Holy Quran. The man died after an extended hospital stay, and 26 people were arrested in connection with the violence. Additionally, a man was lynched in Swat in June for alleged desecration of the Quran.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions and the challenges faced by the legal system in handling blasphemy cases in Pakistan.
