Sialkot lynching: Horror, shame overwhelm Pakistan as the Sri Lankan's killing lays bare its blasphemy barbarism

The victim has been identified as Priyantha Kumara, who was tortured to death to by the mob over blasphemy allegations before they burnt his body.

Kumara, a Sri Lankan national and general manager of Rajko Industries in Sialkot in, was accused by the vigilante mob of tearing a poster bearing the name of Prophet Mohammad, reports said.

After torturing him, the mob burnt his body publicly on a road in Sialkot.

As videos and images of the horrific lynching incident surfaced on social media, politicians, diplomats, activists and netizens from Pakistan and abroad expressed shock and drew the government's attention to the rising extremism in the country.

Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the incident in a strongly-worded tweet calling it "a day of shame for Pakistan".

"The horrific vigilante attack on a factory in Sialkot and the burning alive of its Sri Lankan manager is a day of shame for Pakistan," Khan tweeted.

The Pakistan PM is informed that he is overseeing the investigation into the incident.

"Let there be no mistake all those responsible will be punished with full severity of the law," the Pak PM wrote.

Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi, meanwhile, appreciated the "prompt" action by the government.

"The Sialkot incident is definitely very sad and shameful, and not religious in any way whatsoever. Islam is a religion that established cannons of deliberative justice rather than mob lynchings," he said.

Police officials reportedly said that at least 50 people have been arrested so far in connection with the lynching and investigators are examining CCTV footage and other videos to identify others involved in the "barbarism".

PTI leader and former aide to the prime minister Zulfi Bukhari termed the incident "simply beneath the lowest of inhumanity", saying "we’re an embarrassed nation today."

"There’s no religion that believes in or preaches such brutality, let alone Islam," he added.

The incident triggered a unanimous reaction from Pakistan's prominent personalities who voiced in unison how ashamed they are as countrymen following the gruesome murder.

Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari called the murder "horrific and condemnable".

"Mob violence cannot be acceptable under any circumstance as state has laws to deal with all offences. Punjab government's action must and will be firm and unambiguous," she tweeted.

Pakistani actor Mahira Khan said she was sick to her stomach and sought answers from Prime Minister Imran Khan oer the lynching.

"Ashamed!! Sick to my stomach!! Looking at you @ImranKhanPTI  for answers, for justice and to take away this menace from our country," she posted on Twitter.

Prominent cleric Maulana Tariq Jameel said that taking the law into one's own hands on the basis of a mere accusation was against the teachings of Islam.

"There is no room for violence and extremism in Islam," he said, urging religious scholars to play a positive role in preventing extremism in the country.

Author and activist Fatima Bhutto said every person in the mob should be tried for murder.

"Horrified by the news from Sialkot. Is there a clearer or or more tragic picture of the forces this government has empowered? Every man in that mob should be tried for murder," she wrote.

One Manoor Sheikh wrote: "Where are we heading? This is what happens when you let lose the radical mobs who have nothing to do with logic or rationality. The #Sialkot incident is absolutely horrific. This is a no country to live in."

Another Tehseen Bajwa tweeted: "I am ashamed of being a Pakistani today. What more painful is there is no hope and light. It's all been downhill and now we have reached the bottom. We are doomed."

The mob lynching incident also drew global attention and condemnation.

Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan Wendy Gilmour called it "a day of great sorrow".

"I trust the perpetrators will be brought to justice, and I hope the hate, ignorance and callous disregard for human decency that led to this incident will also be addressed," she said.

European Union's ambassador in Islamabad Androulla Kaminara called the lynching a "horrific attack".

"The immediate reaction by the prime minister and the announcement that those responsible will be brought to justice is very welcome," she said.

Earlier this year, a French envoy in Islamabad faced threats amid deteriorating diplomatic ties with Pakistan.

French ambassador to the country, Marc Barety, faced security threats after a radical Islamic party in Pakistan asked to boycott French products and sever all ties with the country over blasphemy charges.