On Friday, Swat police registered two first information reports (FIRs) related to the lynching of a man accused of desecrating the Holy Quran inside the Madyan police station. This tragic incident occurred on Thursday evening, and so far, no arrests have been made.
The mob, enraged by allegations of blasphemy, forcibly entered the police station, killed the suspect, Mohammed Suleman, and then set his body on fire along with the police station and a vehicle. This marks the second lynching over blasphemy accusations in recent weeks, following a similar incident in Sargodha last month.
According to local reports, announcements were made in the market and from mosques in Madyan, a popular tourist destination in Swat, which incited people to gather at the police station. The mob demanded the suspect be handed over to them and, upon the police’s refusal, stormed the station. Police officers had to flee for their safety while reinforcements were called in to manage the situation.
Videos circulating on social media show the chaos, with the police station ablaze and a large crowd surrounding the motionless body of the suspect, which was later set on fire.
Regional Police Officer Muhammad Ali Gandapur, speaking to the media at the Madyan police station, stated, “We have launched an inquiry into the incident to gather information. The police have filed two first information reports, one against the deceased and the other against the mob for breaking into the police station, breaking and torching records, and vehicles.” He assured that further information would be shared with the public after the investigation is completed.
Madyan Station House Officer (SHO) Islamulhaq told Dawn.com that the FIRs were sealed for “security purposes” and that the investigation process was still ongoing with no arrests made so far. The deceased, identified as Mohammed Suleman from Sialkot, had denied the blasphemy accusations and identified himself as a Sunni Muslim when he was brought to the police station.
Swat District Police Officer (DPO) Dr. Zahidullah Khan confirmed that the situation in Madyan and Swat was “completely normal and peaceful,” with additional security deployed in the area. He assured that life in the region remains undisturbed and tourists are still visiting.
The president of the Malakand Division Traders’ Federation, Abdur Rahim, condemned the incident as a “pre-planned project to sabotage” the peace of Swat and disrupt tourism. He encouraged people from across the country to visit Swat without fear, emphasizing that the local community would ensure their safety.
The Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) strongly condemned the lynching, asserting that neither Islamic law nor Pakistani law permits such actions. In a joint statement, PUC Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi and other members expressed deep regret over the increasing frequency of such incidents. They emphasized that the responsibility of administering punishment for blasphemy lies with the state and judiciary, not individuals acting as judge, jury, and executioner.
The PUC called on the government, police, and judiciary to handle such cases decisively, without compromise, and to prevent individuals from taking the law into their own hands.
As investigations continue, the police and local authorities are under pressure to bring those responsible to justice and to prevent further such incidents in the future.
