LAHORE – A man was alleged to have torched pages of the Holy Quran in the precincts of the Khana Nou Police station here on Monday. Police arrested the accused but the mob demanded his execution on the road.
The accused, identified as Manzoor Sayeen alias Lachay Wali Sarkar, is a resident of the Panju village a suburb of the Khana police station. A resident, Maqsood, revealed to Pakistan Today that Manzoor was a soothsayer and used to predict people’s future and spiritual advice.
Police officials said Manzoor burnt pages of the Holy Quran when no one was at home. As her wife turned to the home she found the ashes of the burnt Quran. The residents of the area came to know about the incident, upon which the residents of the area gathered around his residence and beat him. Police reached at the spot and arrested the accused.
Police has been lodged against the accused under the charges of the 295/20 and 436 under the Pakistan Penal Code. A mob gathered around the police station and demanded that authorities hang the accused on the road. During the uproar, some members of the crowd attempted to enter the police station. Sub-Inspector Bashir confirmed to Pakistan Today that the mob had attacked the police station and thrown stones at it.
The windows of the police station were broken and police constables were injured. Protestors move to block the main road, causing commuter problems. However a prayer leader from the area assured the mob that police would take stern action against the accused. The mob was said to have dispersed upon the assurance.
The hunt for the torching soothsayer
