New Delhi: Several Pakistanis are calling for action against a violent mob, which vandalised a school, temples, and many homes in Ghotki, a town in Sindh, Sunday, after a Hindu school principal was accused of blasphemy.
Activists, journalists and authors, along with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, took to social media to condemn the violence, and said authorities should identify the perpetrators through videos of the incident that were posted online.
Sindh Information Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party leader Saeed Ghani also came out in support of the Hindu community, and assured them of legal action.
میں اس وقت چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری اور وزیر اعلی سندھ کی ہدایت پر ناصر شاہ کے ہمراہ #Ghotki کے SSD دان مندر میں موجود ہوں۔ ہمارے ساتھ مختلف مکاتب فکر کے علمائے کرام بھی موجود ہیں۔ ہندو برادری کے رہنماؤں کو یقین دلایا گیا ہے مندر کی بیحرمتی کرنے والوں کے خلاف مقدمہ درج ہوگا
1/2 pic.twitter.com/3fkCFvRatY— Senator Saeed Ghani (@SaeedGhani1) September 15, 2019
علمائے کرام نے تمام شرپسندوں سے لاتعلقی کا اعلان کیا اور سندھ میں بدامنی پھیلانے کی سازش کی پرزور مذمت کی۔ ہندو برادری نے بھی نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کی شان میں گستاخی کرنے والے کے خلاف قانون کے مطابق کارروائی کی حمایت کی۔ حکومت سندھ تمام نقصانات کا ازالہ کریگی۔#Ghotki
2/2 pic.twitter.com/w3XumXP4cu— Senator Saeed Ghani (@SaeedGhani1) September 15, 2019
Expressing solidarity, many said Muslims should rebuild the damaged temples. Many others identified Mian Mithu as one of the culprits. A Muslim cleric and local politician, Mithu reportedly carried out conversions of Hindu women in the region.
#Ghotki As a Muslim, a Pakistani, i m ashamed today & i want to apologise to our Pakistani Hindu community. We all must seek forgiveness from Allah for this atrocity. The time has come to launch an organised ideological effort against this mindset which results in such incidents. pic.twitter.com/XpBivehBxl
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) September 16, 2019
The Muslims in #Ghotki should rebuild the Mandir, each & every person who vandalized is visible on video & should be behind bars, and locals should form committee to protect mandirs, businesses and homes of the victimized Hindu community. the police should be taken to task too https://t.co/Q3eXbSDXa9
— afia salam (@afiasalam) September 16, 2019
Mian Mithoo lead the mob in Ghotki to attack the temples and homes of resident Hindus today.
He is the main face behind abductions and forced conversions as well.
This criminal belongs in jail.#MianMitho pic.twitter.com/RifvzdXNWP
— Shamila Ghyas (@ShamilaGhyas) September 15, 2019
The attack on patriotic Pakistani Hindus of Ghotki is yet another example of how badly we treat our religious minorities in this country. Shame on those who make excuses for it.
— Yasser Latif Hamdani (@theRealYLH) September 16, 2019
Violence erupted in Ghotki after a parent accused Notal Mal, the principal of Sindh Public School, of blasphemy. The parent filed an FIR under Article 295(c) of the Pakistan Penal Code, which pertains to derogatory remarks in respect of Prophet Muhammad.
Following this, a mob attacked the school, vandalised nearby temples, and even some homes of Hindus.
Alarming reports of accusations of blasphemy in #Ghotki and the outbreak of mob violence. https://t.co/PEc15iBsJi
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) September 15, 2019
It is reported that Hindu teacher has been accused of blasphemy in Ghotki.
We know about how people accuse non-Muslims of committing blasphemy. State has responsibility to protect its citizens and take action against those who misuse blasphemy law
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https://t.co/0VT9ou04IH— Veengas (@VeengasJ) September 15, 2019
The case has been handed over to Hyderabad Deputy Inspector General Naeem Shaikh for further investigation, Dawn reported, while police told reporters that the law and order situation has been brought under control.
Also read: Minorities in India feel safe but those in Pakistan worry about their well being: Rajnath Singh