'Desecration' of Sikh man's turban in Pakistan leads to blasphemy case

Islamabad: Five employees of a transport company and the owner of a bus terminal were booked under blasphemy law for desecrating a Sikh passenger’s turban in Pakistan’s Punjab province, the media reported. The complainant, Mahinder Paal Singh (29), a resident of Multan, told Dawn online that he was travelling from Faisalabad to Multan by a bus owned by Kohistan-Faisal Movers company that broke down near Dijkot. He said though the driver somehow started the bus again but its speed was very slow (around 30km per hour). [caption id=“attachment_2759668” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] He said that he and some of his fellow passengers complained to the transport company’s staff about the slow speed of the bus and demanded an alternative vehicle for the onward journey. The two sides exchanged words, ensuing a free-for-all, during which the six accused manhandled the passengers, including Singh. He alleged that during the fight a bus terminal hawker, Rashid Gujjar, threw his turban on the ground. Singh said the turban was considered sacred in the Sikh religious code and throwing it on the ground was tantamount to desecration. According to some affected passengers, Singh told police, that reached the bus terminal following the brawl, that it was a case of desecration and since he was a Pakistani national the attackers should be booked under blasphemy law. A senior police official said five of the attackers – terminal manager Baqir Ali, Rashid Gujar, Faiz Alam, Shakeel and Snawal had been booked . Police were conducting raids to arrest terminal owner Haji Riyasat.