Riots in Pak’s Sindh Over ‘Blasphemy’ by Hindu School Principal

Later, the police said that it had taken the accused, Notan Mal in protective custody.

Screengrab of the video of protesters breaking the infrastructure of the school and expressed concern over the situation.

(Photo: Twitter) 

Riots broke out in Pakistan's Sindh province in Islamabad on Sunday, 15 September after a school principal from the minority Hindu community was booked on charges of alleged blasphemy.

Widespread protests erupted in Ghotki district after an FIR was filed against the principal of Sindh Public School on the complaint of Abdul Aziz Rajput, a student’s father who claimed that the teacher had committed blasphemy by uttering derogatory remarks against the Prophet of Islam.

Following the riots, protesters demanded the police to arrest the principal, who was identified as Notan Mal.

Later, Additional Inspector General Police Jamil Ahmad, said that police has taken the accused in protective custody.

‘Situation Back to Normal Within 12 Hours’

“Fair investigation would be ensured, facts confirmed and justice would finally prevail In Shaa Allah!” Ahmed further said in a tweet, adding that situation was back to normal within 12 hours.

Meanwhile,Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker, Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, who is also the head of the Pakistan Hindu Council, told the Dawn that the case has been handed over to Hyderabad Deputy Inspector General Naeem Shaikh for probe.

Vankwani said that the protesters had vandalised three temples, a private school and multiple houses belonging to the Hindu community.

He also urged the Police to register an FIR against people involved in the riots.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan shared a video of protesters breaking the infrastructure of the school and expressed concern over the situation.

Videos of stick-wielding protesters were shared on social media in which they were seen vandalising a Hindu temple and damaging the school where the incident took place.

Following the incident, the activists and journalists took to Twitter to share videos and images of the rioting and appealed to the Sindh government to protect the minority Hindu community.

Ghotki Senior Superintendent of Police Farrukh Lanjar, while talking to reporters, said that Police were controlling the law and order situation in the area.

Protests were also held in surrounding towns, including Mirpur Mathelo and Adilpur, where demonstrators blocked roads and demanded that the police arrest the school principal.

‘Hindu Community Forced to Remain Indoors’

Rights activist Sattar Zangejo said that the Hindu community of the area was forced to remain indoors due to the riots.

Advocate Veerji Kolhi, special assistant to Chief Minister Sindh on Human Rights, told Dawn: “The situation is being handled properly to avoid further damage or riots.”

According to reports in the local media, the rioters included supporters of controversial religious leader Pir Abdul Haq alias Mian Mithu, who is accused of involvement in forced conversion of Hindu women in Sindh.

(With inputs from Dawn, PTI)