On Thursday, a Quetta police officer fatally shot a man in custody on blasphemy charges, according to police officials. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muhammad Baloch reported that the officer involved in the incident had been arrested. The officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, allegedly gained access to the police station by posing as a relative of the blasphemy suspect before opening fire.
The suspect, detained earlier in the week and moved to a more secure facility due to an outraged mob’s demands for his release, had been the target of intense public scrutiny. Protesters, primarily from Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and other religious groups, had blocked the western bypass by burning tyres and staged demonstrations across Quetta.
During the protests, a hand grenade was thrown at the Kharotabad police station, although it exploded outside and caused no casualties. An FIR was filed against the blasphemy suspect following the incident. The man, identified as a Kharotabad resident, was accused of using offensive language against the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) in a viral phone conversation, sparking severe backlash and demonstrations.
The police assured protesters that an FIR had been registered under Sections 295C and 34 of the penal code, and the investigation was ongoing. After negotiations with TLP leaders, the crowd was dispersed, and the western bypass was reopened. TLP continued their protests in other parts of Quetta with placards and banners.
Earlier this year, a Christian man in Sargodha was rescued by police from a mob that sought to lynch him over allegations of desecrating the Holy Quran. The incident led to 26 arrests and over 400 individuals being booked for mob violence under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997 and the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Despite these actions, the Christian man, a resident of Mujahid Colony, died after eight days in the hospital.
In June, a similar tragedy occurred in Swat, where a man detained for alleged Quran desecration was lynched by a mob inside the Madyan police station. The mob set fire to the suspect’s body, the police station, and a police vehicle, resulting in injuries to eight others, according to Swat District Police Officer Dr. Zahidullah.
