Gulberg Circle Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shehr Bano Naqvi who averted mob attack on a young woman in Lahore on Monday ruled out any Quranic verse on the lady’s shirt that carried Arabic print.
The ASP clarified in the media that the calligraphy on the woman’s clothes conveyed meanings of sincerity, love, goodness, life, and humanity. The dress belonged to a brand based in a foreign Muslim country, she added.
The incident, initially fueled by what authorities now describe as “mere confusion” and “miscommunication,” unfolded in the crowded Ichra Bazaar, as a charged mob gathered outside a shop, alleging that the woman’s dress bore Quranic verses.
Eyewitnesses revealed that the majority of the crowd consisted of ordinary shoppers, visitors, and passersby. However, despite explanations from garment traders, who were aware that Arabic calligraphy prints were available in the market, some zealots in the crowd persisted in pushing a “blasphemy” charge.
Divulging details about the incident to the media, ASP Shehr Bano revealed that the police received an anonymous call at 1:30 pm, reporting a potential blasphemous act near Pakistan Chowk in Ichra. The caller mentioned a woman wearing a dress with what appeared to be Quranic verses.
Upon arrival, a charged mob had congregated, and it became apparent that the woman was terrified while the mob was religiously fervent.
The densely populated area made it challenging for the police to bring in vehicles, she said while narrating the incident.
ASP Shehr Bano emphasized the urgency to move the woman to safety due to the risk of the nearby shop catching fire. To facilitate her exit, a burqa was arranged, covering her face, and the crowd was educated on the concept of verification in Islam.
ASP Shehr Bano disclosed that it began with a man in the locality approaching the woman and advising her to change her clothes, triggering a heated argument that escalated due to perceived religious concerns.
In response to a question, the police official refrained from disclosing the woman’s identity and reiterated that the incident was rooted in confusion, miscommunication, and a lack of verification, exacerbated by the psychology of the mob.
Regarding a subsequent video showing the woman apologizing alongside religious scholars, ASP Shehr Bano clarified that it was filmed with consent. She underscored the police’s primary concerns for the woman’s safety, respect, and the adherence to due process of justice.
