ISLAMABAD: Remains of a Sri Lankan national killed in Sialkot by a mob over allegations of blasphemy, would be flown to his county on Monday.
A mob on Friday attacked and killed Sri Lankan national, Priyantha Kumara, manager of a factory, and burned his body publicly over allegations that he committed blasphemy.
The tragic incident was condemned across Pakistan. More than 100 people have been arrested so far in connection with brutality.
International and domestic rights groups say accusations of blasphemy have often been used to intimidate religious minorities and settle personal scores.
Blasphemy is considered a deeply sensitive issue in Pakistan, and carries the death penalty. However, in many cases those accused of blasphemy are murdered by religious fanatics. The trend increased during the past few years, especially after murder of Salman Taseer then governor Punjab by his own body guard. The murdered was hailed by a segment of society.
Some media reports suggest that Kumara had exchange of harsh words with workers over removal of some religious posters from machines. The workers twisted the issue into blasphemy and killed the manager.
“The body of Diyawadanage Don Nandasiri Priyantha Kumara, who was killed by a mob in Sialkot, will be ferried to Colombo by SriLankan Airlines,” Sri Lankan High Commission said.
“We have made all arrangements with the support of the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo to bring back the body from Lahore to Colombo,” High Commission added.
The human remains will be received by the next-of-kin at the Colombo airport.
Kalsoom Jillani, a press officer at Pakistan’s High Commission in Colombo, also confirmed that Kumara’s body would be repatriated on a special flight from Lahore on December 6.
Chameera Munasinghe, a counsellor administration at the Sri Lankan High Commission in Islamabad, said members of Kumara’s family would not be flying to Pakistan to retrieve the remains as the “Sri Lankan High Commission is handling everything.”
Prime Minister Imran Khan announced medal for a Pakistani colleague of deceased Priyantha Kumara who tried to save his life from the charged mob.
On behalf of the nation I want to salute moral courage & bravery of Malik Adnan who tried his utmost to shelter & save Priyantha Diyawadana from the vigilante mob in Sialkot incl endangering his own life by physically trying to shield victim. We will award him Tamgha i Shujaat
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 5, 2021
