Police shoot dead blasphemy suspect in Pakistan: Second killing this week
A Pakistani newspaper reported that a doctor accused of posting blasphemous content on social media was shot dead by police in Sindh province.
Police stated that the suspect was armed and was killed during an encounter with officers in the Umar Kot area.
According to the Dawn newspaper, Sindh police officials said on Thursday, September 19, that the doctor was riding a motorcycle with another suspect. When police attempted to stop them, they tried to flee.
The police reported that the suspects fired at the officers while attempting to escape. The suspect was taken to the hospital after being injured, where he later died from his wounds.
Prior to this incident, a group of angry protesters had held a rally in the city, demanding the arrest of the doctor for blasphemy. The protesters warned police that they would storm the police station if the suspect was not apprehended.
Reports indicate that enraged protesters set fire to a police vehicle in response to the failure to arrest the doctor. Police arrested ten individuals during the protests.
Days earlier, another blasphemy suspect was killed by a police officer in Quetta while in custody. Blasphemy accusations in Pakistan frequently lead to violence, with public and religious extremists targeting the accused, as seen in the Sindh incident.
The cycle of violence surrounding blasphemy accusations continues to pose a grave threat to individuals in Pakistan. As tensions rise, the need for a fair legal process and protection for the accused becomes increasingly urgent to prevent further tragedies.
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