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K J M Varma in Islamabad
An Islamic cleric and two others have been arrested in Pakistan's Punjab province for inciting a mob to kill a US navy engineer of Pakistani origin accusing him of blasphemy.
The Jaranwala police on Sunday arrested the Imam of a local mosque and two others for instigating villagers to kill Faraz Jawed, who objected to anti-US remarks by the Imam in his Friday sermon, the daily Dawn reported on Monday.
The incident comes close on the heels of stoning to death on Thursday of a 40-year-old man, Zahid Shah, for making blasphemous remarks in a neighbouring village.
Police have registered a case against 300 people in this connection. As Hafiz Abdul Latif began delivering his lecture cursing Pakistan government and the US, 30-year-old Jawed told the cleric to confine himself to Islamic teachings, the daily reported.
"Instead of blaming America, you should better tell us Islamic teachings," Jawed reportedly told the Imam.
The Imam apparently did not take kindly to it and asked the people gathered to kill Jawed.
"He is also an American and an enemy of Muslims", he declared inciting the crowd to attack, the newspaper said.
Jawed, however, managed to escape and hid in his relative's house. The crowd followed him to the house, on a directive from the Imam. The relatives managed to inform the police who rushed to the site and dispersed the mob, the daily said.
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