Sialkot ‘blasphemy’ lynching: Remains of Sri Lankan to be flown to Colombo today

A candlelight vigil is held at Teen-Talwar, Karachi, Pakistan, on Sunday, December 5, 2021, for Priyantha Kumara, a Sri Lankan factory manager who was lynched and burned publicly in the Pakistani city of Sialkot over alleged blasphemy. (AN photo/S.A. Babar)
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Updated 06 December 2021
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Sialkot ‘blasphemy’ lynching: Remains of Sri Lankan to be flown to Colombo today

  • Priyantha Kumara was killed and his body burned by a Muslim mob over allegations of blasphemy in city of Sialkot
  • Officials say family not coming to Pakistan to collect remains, Sri Lankan High Commission handling body’s return to Colombo

 

COLOMBO/ISLAMABAD: Officials in Colombo and Islamabad said on Sunday the remains of a Sri Lankan man who had been lynched in Pakistan this week over alleged blasphemy would be flown to his home country on Monday. 
A Muslim mob on Friday attacked and killed Sri Lankan Priyantha Kumara and burned his body publicly over allegations he had committed blasphemy in the northeastern city of Sialkot.
Blasphemy is considered a deeply sensitive issue in Pakistan, and carries the death penalty. International and domestic rights groups say accusations of blasphemy have often been used to intimidate religious minorities and settle personal scores.
“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 Lanka’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Sugeeshwara Gunaratne, told Arab News.
“We have made all arrangements with the support of the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo to bring back the body from Lahore to Colombo,” he said. “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 told Arab News 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.”
Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, have said Islamabad is working closely with Sri Lankan authorities on the case. Top Pakistani leaders have promised accountability as Sri Lankan leaders have demanded that Islamabad ensure justice.
Few issues are as galvanizing in Pakistan as blasphemy, and even the slightest suggestions of an insult to Islam have been known to supercharge protests and incite lynching. Perpetrators of violence in the name of blasphemy often go unpunished.
But on Saturday, police said they had arrested over 230 people in the case and filed police reports against 900 workers of the garment factory, Rajco Industries, in Sialkot. Uggoki Station House Officer (SHO) Armaghan Maqt lodged the cases under several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Speaking to the BBC on Saturday, Kumara’s window Niroshi Dasaniyake, pleaded with both Pakistani and Sri Lankan leaders to ensure justice for her husband and the two children who survived him.
“My husband was an innocent man,” she told BBC Sinhala. “I found out from the news that after working abroad for so long he had been brutally murdered. I saw on the Internet how inhuman the killing was. I appeal to the Sri Lankan president and the Pakistani prime minister and president to conduct a fair investigation so my husband and our two children get justice.”
On Saturday, Pakistani media widely reported on a preliminary investigation report in the case that said the Sri Lankan factory manager was not popular with workers who had lodged several complaints against him with the owners of the facility, implying that blasphemy might have only been a pretext for his murder.
Sharing the findings of the initial investigation in the case, top news channel Geo News said Kumara “worked as an honest general manager” who looked after production at the factory and strictly implemented regulations.
“On the day of the incident, Priyantha Kumara visited the production unit where he reprimanded the supervisor for not keeping the place clean,” the news channel reported, saying it was the supervisor who then allegedly instigated workers against the Sri Lankan manager.
“According to the police, Priyantha Kumara had asked workers to remove posters and stickers from the walls which were being painted,” Geo News said. “He also took off some posters himself including one with a religious inscription which led to an outcry. However, he apologized to people on the instructions of his factory owners.”
The investigation report also said Kumara did not speak the local language and frequently faced communication problems at work.
While the issue had seemingly been settled after his apology, some workers continued to instigate people at the scene who then physically attacked the manager. Kumara ran to the roof of the factory to hide but was chased by a group of angry workers who then killed him.
As his body was dragged by the mob onto the road, security guards deployed at the building left the facility without making an effort at rescue. The man’s corpse was then publicly set on fire in the presence of a crowd of hundreds of people, many of whom filmed the incident on their cellphones and posted video clips on social media.
Kumara’s post-mortem was completed at Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital in Sialkot, according to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, with the report saying most of his body was burnt and several bones were broken due to the torture he had suffered.


During Tajikistan visit, Pakistan PM urges world to hold India accountable for ‘acts of war’

Updated 5 min 19 sec ago
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During Tajikistan visit, Pakistan PM urges world to hold India accountable for ‘acts of war’

  • Shehbaz Sharif made the remarks during a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe
  • He will attend a glacier preservation conference in Tajikistan, present Pakistan’s stance on climate change

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday urged the international community to hold India accountable for what he described as “acts of war” earlier this month, saying the region could not afford New Delhi’s “irresponsible and unlawful actions.”

Sharif made the remarks during a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe, where the two leaders discussed regional security, economic ties and cooperation on climate issues.

His statement came just days after a military confrontation between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, which saw the two countries exchange missile, drone and artillery fire between them.

Sharif arrived in Tajikistan’s capital on the final leg of a five-day regional diplomacy tour that earlier took him to Türkiye, Iran and Azerbaijan, as Islamabad seeks to reinforce strategic ties and shore up support following the South Asian standoff.

He was received in Dushanbe by Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda and later attended a bilateral meeting with President Rahmon at the Qasr-e-Millat.

“The Prime Minister underscored that our region could not afford India’s irresponsible and unlawful actions since 7 May 2025, which amounted to acts of war and violation the UN Charter and international law,” a statement released by his office said after the meeting. “The Prime Minister urged the international community to hold India accountable, reiterating that Pakistan desires peace, but will defend its sovereignty with full resolve if challenged.”

President Rahmon, expressing concern over the recent conflict, said he was “very worried” about the events of early May and praised Sharif’s leadership in helping restore peace and stability. He also called Pakistan a “trusted partner” and reaffirmed Tajikistan’s commitment to deepening cooperation across all sectors.

The two leaders reviewed progress under the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in 2024 and pledged to expand collaboration in trade, defense, education, technology and counterterrorism. They also agreed to accelerate work on the CASA-1000 energy project, a regional initiative to transmit surplus hydroelectric power from Central Asia to South Asia, which they termed a “pivotal initiative” for regional integration.

Sharif underscored Pakistan’s push for deeper connectivity with Central Asia through infrastructure and transit links, citing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a linchpin of that strategy. He also briefed the Tajik president on Pakistan’s role in regional peace efforts and acknowledged Tajikistan’s leadership in water diplomacy and glacier preservation.

The Pakistani prime minister is in Dushanbe to attend the International High-Level Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation, where he is expected to speak on the impact of climate change on Pakistan and call for stronger global cooperation on environmental issues.

Earlier this week, Sharif held talks in Türkiye, Iran and Azerbaijan, including a trilateral summit with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Lachin, where the three leaders pledged to deepen regional cooperation and transform fraternal ties into a strategic partnership.


Pakistani high court to hear Imran Khan’s appeal in Al-Qadir land bribe case on June 5

Updated 29 May 2025
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Pakistani high court to hear Imran Khan’s appeal in Al-Qadir land bribe case on June 5

  • Khan and his wife Bushra were sentenced four months ago, call the case politically motivated
  • Authorities say they used Al-Qadir trust to receive land as a bribe from a real estate developer

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will take up the Al-Qadir Trust case involving former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife on June 5, marking the first hearing since the couple was sentenced over four months ago, the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said Thursday.

A Pakistani court sentenced Khan to 14 years and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to seven years in prison last January. The centers on allegations that they received land as a bribe from real estate tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain through their charitable foundation, the Al-Qadir Trust.

The trust, founded in 2018 while Khan was still in office, is accused by authorities of being used as a front for illegal benefits.

The PTI has long maintained the case lacks merit and repeatedly requested the high court to hear their petition to suspend the convictions. This is the first time the IHC has scheduled proceedings since the lower court verdict in January, which was delayed at least three times before being delivered.

“Al-Qadir Trust case is scheduled for hearing on June 5,” the PTI said in a statement during the day.

The hearing will be conducted by a two-member IHC bench led by acting Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif, according to the court’s cause list.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court earlier this week, said the party had met with the chief justice to press for the case to be listed.

“Release [of Khan and his wife] will take place once the case is heard,” Gohar told reporters. “We still hope the case will be heard on June 5.”

The Al-Qadir case stems from £190 million that the UK repatriated to Pakistan in 2019 after the Pakistani real estate tycoon settled a British investigation into suspected criminal assets.

Authorities allege that instead of depositing the funds in Pakistan’s national treasury, Khan’s government used the money to help Hussain pay court-imposed fines in a separate case related to land acquired illegally in Karachi at below-market rates.

Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023 and is facing a slew of legal cases, says all charges against him are politically motivated.

He accuses Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the country’s powerful military of orchestrating the crackdown to sideline him, a claim both Sharif and military officials deny.


Army chief calls water Pakistan’s ‘red line,’ rejects any deal on Kashmir

Updated 29 May 2025
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Army chief calls water Pakistan’s ‘red line,’ rejects any deal on Kashmir

  • Field Marshal Asim Munir addresses university academics at the inaugural Hilal Talks forum
  • He urges them to pass on Pakistan’s story and help shape the character of future generations

KARACHI: Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, on Thursday called water his country’s “red line” and ruled out any deal on Kashmir during an address to university academics at the military’s inaugural Hilal Talks forum.

The forum is designed to engage Pakistan’s academic community on national and regional issues, where the army chief spoke just days after a military standoff with nuclear-armed India in which both sides resorted to missile, drone and artillery strikes.

Munir’s statement followed India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a World Bank-brokered agreement that has governed water-sharing between the two countries since 1960. Kashmir, a Himalayan region claimed by both India and Pakistan but ruled in parts, also remains a major flashpoint between both states.

“No deal on Kashmir is possible,” the army chief was quoted as saying by the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), while addressing the forum. “We can never forget Kashmir.”

“Water is Pakistan’s red line,” he continued, “and we will never compromise on the basic right of 240 million Pakistanis.”

Munir said Pakistan would never accept India’s dominance, adding New Delhi had tried to suppress the Kashmir issue for decades but that was no longer possible.

The army chief spoke at the Army Auditorium in Rawalpindi where he was joined virtually by over 1,800 participants, including vice chancellors, senior faculty and students from across Pakistan.

Hilal Talks is a newly launched initiative aimed at fostering sustained dialogue between Pakistan’s military and its academic institutions, with a focus on national harmony.

Munir urged educators to serve as custodians of Pakistan’s story and builders of future generations.

“Teachers are Pakistan’s greatest asset,” he said. “Whatever I am today, it is because of my parents and my teachers.”

This combination of photos shows Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir speaking to university academics during a “Hilal Talks” forum at the Army Auditorium in Rawalpindi on May 29, 2025. (Handout/ISPR)

“You are the ones who must pass on Pakistan’s story to the next generation,” he added. “It is your responsibility to shape [students’] character.”

The army chief reiterated India was stoking unrest in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, saying, “The terrorist insurgents in Balochistan are a foreign-backed menace and have nothing to do with the local population.”

He said it was important for Pakistan to become a strong state where all institutions operate within their constitutional limits and without political, financial or personal interference.

“We must reject any narrative that seeks to weaken the state,” he added.


Pakistan eyes carbon market partnership with ADB to advance climate goals

Updated 29 May 2025
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Pakistan eyes carbon market partnership with ADB to advance climate goals

  • Carbon markets reduce emissions by letting countries buy and sell tradable ‘carbon credits’
  • Pakistan introduced its first carbon market policy last year to drive a low-carbon transition

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Climate Change Minister Dr. Musadik Malik on Thursday met with a high-level Asian Development Bank (ADB) delegation to explore potential collaboration on carbon markets as part of the country’s evolving climate strategy, said in an official statement.

The visiting team was led by Toru Kubo, ADB’s Senior Director for Climate Change and Sustainable Development. The discussions focused on leveraging carbon markets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and attract new streams of climate finance for sustainable development.

Carbon markets are trading systems that allow countries, companies or organizations to buy and sell carbon credits or permits representing the right to emit a specific amount of carbon dioxide. These markets create financial incentives for reducing emissions and investing in greener alternatives.

“Both sides agreed to formulate a comprehensive, mutually aligned climate change strategy, with a specific focus on carbon credit mobilization, climate innovation and outcomes-based project implementation,” the climate change ministry said in a statement.

The two sides also explored ways for Pakistan to strategically align its carbon finance agenda with the Sustainable Development Goals, aiming to turn climate action into a driver of economic growth, it added.

On the occasion, Malik assured the ADB of full support in the strategy formulation, emphasizing that it should remain “impact-driven, transparent and results-oriented.”

Kubo highlighted ADB’s support for developing member countries, including Pakistan, by enhancing their carbon finance capabilities through mobilizing investments in low-carbon technologies, enabling them to access and benefit from global carbon markets.

The ministry said the meeting showed that climate action is now seen as a way to boost the economy, not just an environmental measure, with more countries paying attention to carbon markets.

Pakistan unveiled the country’s first National Carbon Market Policy in November 2024, saying that the government wanted to attract investments in green initiatives and transition toward a low-carbon economy.

According to the Global Climate Risk Index, Pakistan is ranked as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change.

In 2022, devastating floods claimed about 1,700 lives and affected more than 33 million people, causing economic losses exceeding $30 billion.

Although international donors pledged over $9 billion to support Pakistan’s flood recovery, officials report that only a small portion of the promised funds were received by the country.


Pakistan secures Hajj facilities upgrade through deal with Saudi Al-Rajhi company

Updated 29 May 2025
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Pakistan secures Hajj facilities upgrade through deal with Saudi Al-Rajhi company

  • Nearly 114,700 Pakistanis will perform Hajj, including 89,000 under the government scheme and 25,700 privately
  • Tents have been equipped with ACs, fans, partitioned sofa-beds, sliding doors and luggage racks for added comfort

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has finalized arrangements for its Hajj pilgrims in coordination with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Rajhi company, upgrading tents and amenities at key pilgrimage sites under a new agreement aimed at improving services for those traveling under the Government Hajj Scheme, an official confirmed Thursday.

The deal with Al-Rajhi, a licensed Tawafa company responsible for assisting foreign pilgrims in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, marks a significant step in elevating standards traditionally reserved for private tour groups.

The move comes as Pakistan seeks to improve the experience for nearly 89,000 pilgrims performing Hajj this year under the state-run scheme.

In total, 114,698 Pakistanis are expected to perform Hajj beginning June 4, including 25,698 under private operators. As of Thursday, 84,638 government-sponsored pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia on 329 flights, while 17,959 private pilgrims had also reached the kingdom.

Pre-Hajj flight operations are scheduled to conclude on May 31.

“An agreement was signed with the Tawafa company Al-Rajhi for Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, and all arrangements and facilities at the sacred sites are being finalized for this year’s Hajj,” Muhammad Umer Butt, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, told Arab News from Makkah over the phone.

Officials from Pakistani Hajj Mission brief Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Yousaf about this year’s Hajj arrangement at the Pakistani camps in Mina, Saudi Arabia on May 29, 2025. (Handout/MORA)

He said pilgrims under the Government Hajj Scheme will now benefit from upgraded camp infrastructure.

“Air conditioners and extra fans have been added to the tents along with air coolers,” he informed, adding that modern sofa-cum-beds with partitions on both sides have been introduced to prevent the spread of infections caused by breathing or sweating.

Additional improvements include luggage racks, sliding doors in place of traditional tarpaulin sheets, gypsum board tent walls, artificial grass carpeting in corridors, protective sunshades, fans along walkways and designated shoe racks.

For the first time, Pakistani medical teams will be stationed at each camp to provide support in addition to Saudi medical services.

“A first aid team will be added to every camp, where doctors and medical staff will be available at all times,” Butt said.

He said Pakistan’s Hajj mission had also worked closely with Saudi authorities and the Maktab system to implement a transport strategy across the sacred sites, or Mashair, to ensure smooth movement of pilgrims.

“Saudi authorities have issued special instructions to protect pilgrims from the extreme weather conditions, and our mission ensures that these instructions are communicated clearly and understandably to all Pakistani pilgrims,” he added.

A dedicated complaint management cell has been set up to address pilgrims’ concerns in real time.

“A total of 2,241 complaints were received regarding lost luggage, out of which 2,209 were resolved with the luggage delivered to the concerned pilgrims,” Butt said.

“In Madinah, 636 bags were misplaced during handling, of which 630 were recovered and returned,” he continued.

He said that around two dozen pilgrims who had gone missing from their groups in Makkah and Madinah were also successfully located and reunited.

More than 39,000 Pakistani pilgrims completed their visit to Riyad al-Jannah — the sacred area in Masjid al-Nabawi believed to be a garden from Paradise — mostly using the official Nusuk app in Madinah.

For those unfamiliar with the digital system, special permits were arranged for 14,000 individuals.

Butt praised Saudi Arabia’s digital Hajj infrastructure and logistical planning, which he said had greatly eased the pilgrimage experience for visitors from around the world.