EDITORIAL: Almost invariably, the alleged blasphemous utterances and acts in Pakistan provoke mob violence, as was the case in Charsadda district of KP province on Sunday. In its Tangi tehsil, a violent mob stormed the main police station to grab the person who had allegedly burnt the Holy Quran in a mosque, and as it didn’t find him there it put the police station on fire.

In other parts of the tehsil, four police posts were also burnt down by the mob. The mob took away about a dozen rifles, destroyed the office record and set ablaze about two dozen vehicles parked in the premises of the police station. According to a media report, the police tried to check the mob but there was firing from the other side.

Now the situation is calm and peaceful, and cases have been registered against the identified and unidentified protestors, and some of them have been arrested.

Every now and then there are instances of alleged blasphemy triggered mob violence. But the state seems to be unable to take a hard line against persons and groups who exploit the blasphemy law and resort to seek mob justice. There is sufficient law on the statute book to punish those who commit blasphemy.

Agreed, such an incident does incite angry public reaction. But there are laws against such incidents and it is for the state to take due action against the violators. In many such cases the persons accused of committing blasphemy were eventually found to be mentally unstable.

In Charsadda, too, local police officials have confirmed to the media that the accused appeared to be mentally unwell and was unable to speak. There are also instances of settling personal scores by accusing the opponents of committing blasphemy. Here, two institutions – the government and religious leaders and scholars – are expected to proactively gear up against mob violence in the name of religion.

When the government surrenders to mob violence ignited in the name of religion it tends to forfeit its right to govern the people. Whatever may be the nature of allegation against a person in the eyes of the law he is innocent until declared guilty by the court of law.

The government must have the lens to detect the violence being planned in the name of countering blasphemy and take appropriate steps before it bursts on the streets. Fearing mob violence, the Mandani police had shifted the accused to some other place. It was a precautionary step. The circumstances had warranted such action. Vacating the entire police station in view of a mob assault is, however, highly unacceptable, to say the least.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021