On Sunday, a Hindu principal in Ghotki was accused of blasphemy on school premises by a student. Consequently, an FIR (first information report) was filed against him by the student’s father.
Law and order went out the window in Ghotki when an outraged mob took to the streets and vandalized the school, three Hindu temples and even attacked Hindu houses after the blasphemy accusation
They closed roads and videos of them wielding sticks and destroying property have now gone viral on social media.
In #Ghotki Pakistan, riots broke out on a false accusation against
a Hindu teacher.
The teacher & Hindus are being attacked by mobs led by an extremist leade.
3 Hindu temples have been vandalised
Saviours of Kashmiris pls pay attention to this too.
pic.twitter.com/tsoqFKNYmC— Rita 🇮🇳 (@RitaG74) September 16, 2019
People of Pakistan are enraged at this barbaric behavior, especially when these accusations haven’t yet been proven, and are taking to social media to stand up for the Hindu minority.
Pakistanis thought this was not okay because Islam preached love not hate
The vandalism and inspired fear in Ghotki was not accepted by many Pakistani Muslims because it was an act given birth by hate and it essentially went against all the Islamic teachings.
https://twitter.com/Mariya_lhr/status/1173333442983075840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
People demanded that the mob leader gets arrested
Mian Mithoo, who is accused of several crimes against the Hindu minority which includes kidnapping young Hindu girls, forcing his faith on people and being the leader of the violent mob, was criticized by Pakistanis and they wanted him in jail. The hashtag #ArrestMianMithoo was trended.
This is #MianMithoo who is believed to lead a violent mob to attack houses, temples & schools of Hindu community in #Ghotki
He is also involved in #ForcedConversions & abductions of Hindu girls.
He belongs in jail. Why our state authorities can't get to him?#ArrestMianMithoo pic.twitter.com/Qa6VBjv500
— Shaan (@Shanyousaf6) September 16, 2019
People were outraged at the destruction of a holy temple for a minority community that is already under siege
Islam gives us many examples where the followers of the faith were not allowed to destroy holy places belonging to other religions. It’s a religion of tolerance and this uncivilized behavior was in contradiction to Islamic teachings which upset Pakistanis.
This is beyond demeaning. You can’t vandalise a holy temple like this. Pakistan really needs to revise its blasphemy laws. This is atrocious and unacceptable. I stand up with our #Hindu community against what happened in #Ghotki
https://t.co/vEIjSau3j6— 𝓛𝓲𝔃𝔃𝔂 ✨ (@__elizzz__) September 15, 2019
Of course, the Hindu community was furious
They spoke out against the unfair behavior and how being Pakistanis their rights should also be protected. Many people trended the hashtag #PakistanForAll. Pakistan is a country of diverse people and should welcome and protect them as such.
Aren't we Pakistani?
We #Pakistani #Hindus are only 2% of the total population. I just want to know what danger do we pose to 98% population. Just visit my timeline & see how we observed Muhrram a few days ago, but yet we suffer incidents like #Ghotki.
— Kapil Dev کپل دیو (@KDSindhi) September 15, 2019
We all want to know @ImranKhanPTI 's stand on false #blasphemy accusations against innocent minorities people after some petty fight with some Muslim in Pakistan #Ghotki
— Hard Nut (@pkbittu65) September 16, 2019
People dragged the Minister of Human Rights Shireen Mazari for not being able to protect human lives when they were being mobbed
Our very own Human Rights Minister’s stance on Ghotki incident.#Ghotki#ArrestMianMithoo pic.twitter.com/YbAPI6TsNe
— pardeep kumar (@p_lionheart) September 15, 2019
Many Muslims in Pakistan are standing up for the suffering Hindu community
The majority of the Muslim community has come out with outpouring love and support for our Hindu brethren. They demand the matter to be handled in a fair manner. In Ghotki, a crowd of Muslims gathered at their holy temples to ensure the safety of Hindus.
https://twitter.com/Team_Sindhi/status/1173407538093744128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
No doubt, big shame for us but we are standing along with our brothers and sisters facing persecution in #Ghotki
— Epicurus (@epicurus_5124) September 16, 2019
People urged others to protect the white in our flag
Sindhis urged each other to come out in support of the Hindu minority. The white color in our flag represents the non-muslims and green represent Muslims, combined together it’s a symbol of peace and prosperity. We Pakistanis should uphold the foundation of peace that was set by our Quaid.
https://twitter.com/Biakhalidbutt/status/1173412171990085633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Many demanded a proper investigation for Ghotki
Pakistanis thought the only right way to go about this is dealing with it in an organized way according to the law. The person found responsible for this should be held accountable at all costs.
I strongly condemn the horrendous vandalisation of holy temple and others in Ghotki.
The case should be investigated according to law and legal action should be taken against those who sabotaged.Respect the meaning of white colour in our flag.#Ghotki #Sindh
— Haseeb Dal (@HaseebDal) September 15, 2019
Additional Inspector General of Police responded to the public
IGP Jamil Ahmed took to Twitter to inform the public that matters in Ghotki have been taken care for. He ensured that a fair investigation will be carried out after the facts have been confirmed and justice will be served.
Alleged accused in a sensitive case of Ghotki is now in the custody of Police. Situation in Ghotki is back to normal within 12 hours.
Fair investigation is being done after confirming facts & justice ensured. Cases against hooligans are being registered & miscreants being nabbed.— IGP Dr. Jamil Ahmed PSP, PPM (@jahmed95) September 15, 2019
Extremism is not part of what Islam stands of. These incidences of violence give a misguided reflection of Islamic teachings. Actions of an individual should not be held against the entire community. Muslims know what persecution feels like better than anyone else, hence we should not take part in it ourselves, if we can’t speak up for the oppressed, at least.
This Imam In Chitral Just Saved A Mentally Disabled Man Accused Of Blasphemy And We Can All Learn A Thing From Him
Muslims Are Uniting Against A Blasphemous Cartoon Contest Being Held For ‘Freedom Of Speech’
Cover image via: hire.pk