Sialkot incident: One year imprisonment for justifying murder of Sri Lankan citizen Priyantha Kumara in YouTube video
A court in Gujranwala has convicted a man for justifying the killing of a Sri Lankan national in Sialkot on social media.
The case was heard in the city's special anti-terrorism court, where the main murder case is being heard separately.
According to the prosecution, the convict Muhammad Adnan had publicized the murder of Sri Lankan citizen Priyantha Kumara on social media while he had also confessed to the crime during the trial.
Special Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Natasha Naseem Supra has sentenced the accused to one year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000.
It may be recalled that Priyantha Kumara, who was working as a manager in a factory in Sialkot, Punjab, was burnt to death by an angry mob in December last year on charges of blasphemy.
Top Pakistani and Sri Lankan officials had strongly condemned the attack, while Priyantha's wife demanded justice from Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Police arrested more than 100 people seen in the videos during the operation, 13 of whom were named as the main culprits. Judicial proceedings are underway against these individuals.
'Attempt to spread religious hatred' via YouTube
A case was registered against the accused Adnan on December 5, 2021, a few days after the Sialkot incident, at Ringpura Sialkot police station. In addition to terrorism, there were provisions for breach of peace.
The FIR alleges that the accused went viral by uploading a video from the YouTube channel Adnan Iftikhar Basri. The video claimed that the Rajko factory manager did not allow the factory workers to offer prayers or recite the Qur'an.
In the video, provocative claims were made that a Sri Lankan citizen had "desecrated the Qur'an" and insulted the Prophet of Islam, after which he was caught and tortured by factory workers, Aashiqan Rasool. He has been cremated and his body has been burnt with petrol.
It may be recalled that according to the investigation report of the Punjab government, the controversy started when Priyantha, the strict factory manager of Discipline, asked to remove the religious stickers which angered the employees.
The FIA said that the accused Adnan had created fear of disturbing the peace through the video, spreading religious hatred among the people and trying to provoke the people by inciting religious sentiments.
During the hearing of the case, Adnan confessed in court that he had uploaded a video on his YouTube channel after the incident and had vindicated the role of the accused in the video.