Sri Lankan lynched in Pakistan: ‘Day of shame,’ says Imran Khan

Sri Lankan factory manager in Pakistan was on Friday beaten to death and set ablaze by a mob, police confirmed, in an incident local media reported was linked to alleged blasphemy.

Few issues are as galvanising in Pakistan as blasphemy, and even the slightest suggestion of an insult to Islam can supercharge protests and incite lynchings, reports AFP.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said he would personally oversee an investigation into “the horrific vigilante attack” which he also called “a day of shame for Pakistan”.

“Let there be no mistake all those responsible will be punished with full severity of the law,” he tweeted.

Friday’s incident took place in Sialkot, about 200 kilometres (125 miles) southeast of the capital Islamabad.

Several gruesome video clips shared on social media showed a mob beating the prone victim while chanting slogans against blasphemy.

Other clips showed his body set ablaze, as well as the overturned wreckage of what was said to be his car.

Many in the mob made no attempt to hide their identity and some took selfies in front of the burning corpse.

Punjab government spokesman Hasaan Khawar told reporters in Lahore that police have already arrested 50 people.

“CCTV footage is being carefully looked into as we have been directed to complete the inquiry within 48 hours,” he said.

The slogans chanted in the social media videos were the same used by supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) — an anti-blasphemy party.