Sialkot man burnt alive: Lynched over blasphemy allegations in Swat

A man from Sialkot in Punjab (Pakistan) was burnt alive by a mob in the Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan on the night of June 20th. The victim, recently identified as Muhammad Ismail, son of Qamar Aziz, was in Swat for Eid vacations.

Also read: Manipur violence: Police swing into action, arrest accused seen in the molest video

The mob accused Ismail of setting fire to pages of the Quran, using this allegation as a pretext for his lynching. Initially arrested by the police to prevent further disturbances, Ismail was detained at a police station in Madyan, a popular tourist destination in Swat.

Despite police efforts, further announcements from local mosques incited a mob of Islamists who stormed the police station, forcibly removed Ismail, and set him on fire.

The Swat District Police Officer (DPO) reported that the mob also set fire to the police station and a mobile vehicle, resulting in 8 injuries during the attack.

A video of the incident has gone viral on X (formerly Twitter), with a user showcasing the events as they unfolded during Eid in Swat.

Eid in Pakistan: A man from Sialkot in Punjab went to the scenic Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Eid

He was accused of blasphemy and burnt alive in front of police station

Identity of victim, who is dead, yet unknown pic.twitter.com/euY4R2FePH

— Swati Goel Sharma (@swati_gs) June 21, 2024

Initially, police officials were unable to confirm Ismail's identity, stating that he did not belong to Swat and was staying at a local hotel. However, recent updates identified him as Muhammad Ismail from Sialkot.

This tragic event is the second instance of lynching due to blasphemy allegations in recent weeks, following a similar incident in Sargodha. These cases underscore the ongoing and severe threat posed by blasphemy accusations in the area.