SAHIWAL, 14 September 2024 – A minor scuffle between two teenagers in the Ghala Mandi area of Sahiwal has escalated into a blasphemy case, leading to the arrest of one boy’s father. The incident, which started as a dispute between a 17-year-old and his 18-year-old friend, quickly spiraled after the father of one teenager allegedly made derogatory remarks about the companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

The Ghala Mandi police, responding to a growing mob outside the man's house, registered an FIR under sections 298, 298-A, and 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). The complaint was lodged by a local man unaffiliated with the teenagers involved in the fight.

According to the police, the father had been called by his son for assistance during the altercation and allegedly made the blasphemous remarks, prompting outrage. Local clerics and residents, including members of the Jamia Rasheeda seminary, gathered in protest, chanting slogans and demanding action.

Following hours of negotiation led by DSP Rana Iftikhar, the father was arrested, and Special Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Ziaullah Khan placed him on a four-day physical remand.

The incident has raised concerns about the quick escalation of local disputes into blasphemy cases, which are often followed by mass protests and mob pressure.