Social media has expressed furor following the vandalizing of a Hindu temple in Ghotki, a small city in interior Sindh, after blasphemy accusations against a Hindu principal. Aghast on the appalling Ghotki incident alarmed social media made calls for the authorities to take immediate action against transgressors to protect the Hindu community.
Arrest Mian Mathu!
Netizens stress the government to arrest Mian Mathu, a prime accused in the Ghotki incident. Mian Mahtu is a local cleric notorious for his extremist outlook against religious minorities, especially the Hindu community. He is been charged in several cases for abducting Hindu girls and marrying them off to Muslim boys after conversion to Islam.
https://twitter.com/GhanishKuxh/status/1173640066914279425?s=20
#Pakistan state must guarantee and protect places of worship, lives and properties of minorities (Hindus)as stated in Islam and also in constitution of Pakistan. I condemn #Ghotki incident in strongest terms. https://t.co/vaQRxhreMu
— WARSI (@WarsiBlunt) September 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/danyawaheed/status/1173431059515674624?s=20
#blasphemylaws #Ghotki #Ghotki_Burning #MianMithoo About time we do that? How on earth a 14 year old can allege someone of #blasphemy and we blindly follow? He is not even an adult as per the law. #Think pic.twitter.com/w2NOc2mQe8
— MKR ✍ (@mkamranrifat) September 16, 2019
Let's start a chanda campaign to rebuild the vandalized Hindu temple. Let us show the world other side of progressive Pakistan#Ghotki #Ghotki_Burning
— Zohaib Hassan Majhay Aala (@zabi7474) September 16, 2019
The Ghotki incident ensued a discourse on the blasphemy laws on social media and how to protect the minorities from being unduly persecuted under blasphemy laws.
Several PTI legislatures including Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry and Dewan Sachal dismissed the speculations and distanced themselves from Mian Mathu
Few of the social media users pointed to the failure of the authorities in maintaining peace in the society, asserted that violent mob burning the school and a Hindu temple tantamount to undermining the writ of the law enforcement agencies.
https://twitter.com/asifsharwrites/status/1173318970969120770?s=20
Ghotki incident is a stigma on Pakistan. Only harsh action against extremist elements can erase it. Inaction would be tantamount to a tacit support to extremist gangs
— Naseer Memon (@nmemon2004) September 16, 2019
Social media expressed immense solidarity with the Hindu community and stated that Pakistan was created on the principles of protection and safety of minorities.
https://twitter.com/iamkhalidraza/status/1173653887410216967?s=20
Incident in Ghotki, Thatta, Sindh, where Hindu man accused of blasphemy and riots ensued. Hope justice prevails soon! https://t.co/Fpa0F1SiYo
— Bina Shah (@BinaShah) September 15, 2019
Govt must ensure immediate protection of life, property and all religious places of Hindu Community in Ghotki. A improved blasphemy charge resulting into mob violence isn't a coincidence and is never a coincidence. The incident reeks of malice on the accuser's part. https://t.co/vaX3ZeWmN7
— M. Jibran Nasir 🇵🇸 (@MJibranNasir) September 15, 2019
PTI or PPP: Who is responsible?
A mammoth of social media users slammed the political parties Pakistan People’s Party, a ruling party in the region and Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf for providing support to Mian Mathu. PTI was censured on social media after Mian Mathu’s pictures with PM Khan circulated on social media following the Ghotki incident.
Ghotki incident of A mob attacking the SSD dham temple is shocking but pls note the mob was controlled by Other Muslims Only. We have a few bigoted Muslims who spoil the good name of all Muslims Same like RSS is spoiling name of all Hindus . #InterFaithHarmony
— Dewan Sachal (@essel1) September 15, 2019
Great reply to liberal dogs and bitches barking over #Ghotki incident.#RawAgentNawazSharif
— ڈاکٹر شیدا 🇵🇰 (@drsheeda1) September 15, 2019
Moro rally against religious extremism for #Ghotki incident by Sindh Progressive Committee. pic.twitter.com/C95QUW1cNq
— Mokhi Media (@themokhimedia) September 16, 2019
Just one correction mian Mithu wanted to join PTI after meeting when @ImranKhanPTI was briefed about his extremist ideology he straight away refused to take him in PTI so he was never allowed to be part of PTI https://t.co/NHgFBQNBDS
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) September 16, 2019
Sir jee he NEVER joined #PTI. He tried to join once in 2015 and once in 2017. Both times he was NOT accepted. He even contested as an Independent . @PTIofficial https://t.co/HNRGRHjzpW
— Dewan Sachal (@essel1) September 16, 2019
Several PTI legislatures including Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry and Dewan Sachal dismissed the speculations and distanced themselves from Mian Mathu. Sachal maintained that Mian Mathu attempted to join PTI but was refused party ticket. Fawad Chaudhry also made similar assertions added that PM Khan denied him party membership for his extremist ideology.
Hindu-Muslim Unity
Pictures were afloat on social media, which showed a large number of Muslim men in Ghotki turned up to protect the Hindu community.
Read more: Pakistan’s Religious minorities: The significant “Other”
Pictures shared by a few journalists on social media showed a group of Muslim men gathered in a Hindu temple to protect it from a violent mob.
Muslim community of Ghotki & Pakistan at large demonstrated exemplary resilience in the aftermath of Ghotki incident when they spend whole night in Hindu temple & became vanguards to protect Hindus. We're also grateful to you.#Pakistan4All @KlasraRauf pic.twitter.com/h46qlqGJoa
— Aroon Kumar Kundnani (@AroonKumarK) September 16, 2019
The #Ghotki incident is not only against Hindus. It's against Pakistan. Silly ppl don't realise it will weaken our position on IOK issue and defame us in the world of being an intolerant and ignorant society. https://t.co/JJADAIuApj
— Asma (@AsmaZhk) September 15, 2019
After unfortunate incident of religious frenzy in Ghotki a day ago, the Muslims of the area stood guard last night to protect Hindu temples and homes in Ghotki.
Look my tolerant, secular and Sufi Sindh.
Don’t destroy peace and harmony in Sindh. It won’t work in Sindh.#Ghotki
— Ali Mardan Rahoojo (@Ali_M_Rahoojo) September 17, 2019
Local muslims in Ghotki flocked to hindu Mandir to ensure 'safety of their hindu brothers'. Rohit Rai, Founder Pakistani Hindus Youth forum. #Ghotki
While Police has lodged FIRs against dozens of miscreants who attacked Temples. Pakistan stands with its Hindu minority. pic.twitter.com/aQxHenRKnn
— Asfandyar Bhittani (@AsfandBhittani) September 16, 2019