Sialkot tragedy could be a turning point, says Malik Adnan after receiving appreciation letter

Malik Adnan said he did not want any incident to happen that would tarnish the image of the country.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday presented Malik Adnan – the man who put his life at risk to save the life of the Sri Lankan national from mob – with letter of appreciation.

A ceremony was held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad in memory of the Sri Lankan citizen who was killed in Sialkot in which Prime Minister Imran Khan was also present.

The ceremony offered condolences to Priyantha Kumara s family, the Sri Lankan government and the people.

Talking to media after the ceremony, Malik Adnan said that his passion that day was to somehow save the Sri Lankan citizen, he did not want any incident to happen that would tarnish the image of the country.

"I hope this incident would be a turning point for the nation and will change the thinking of the whole of Pakistan, because the future generation will be better nurtured if the mindset changed," he said.

He thanked the Prime Minister for awarding him a commendation certificate and Tamgha e Shujaat, adding that after the incident the way the nation stood with him, he was thankful to everybody.

He said his parents and teachers always advised him to stand with the oppressed even at the cost of one’s life. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said one who saved a human saved the whole of humanity, he added.

He said Priyantha Kumara was a good human being, friend, and the best manager and people trained by him were working at high posts in different companies of the country.

Media, teachers and conscious citizens should guide people so that such incidents were not repeated in future, he added.

The Prime Minister also appreciated the courage of Malik Adnan who put his life at risk to save the life of the Sri Lankan national. He said Malik Adnan will also be conferred with Tamgha-e-Shujaat.

Top civilian award

PM Imran Khan had announced a top civilian award for a man who risked his life while trying to save Priyantha Diyawadana, a Sri Lankan factory manager, from being lynched by an angry mob over blasphemy allegations.

Malik Adnan, a colleague of the slain Sri Lankan citizen, will be awarded Tamgha-i-Shujaat, or the Medal of Bravery for "endangering his own life by physically trying to shield the victim," Prime Minister Imran Khan announced on Twitter on Sunday.

Videos circulating on social media showed Adnan physically shielding the Sri Lankan in an attempt to save him from the vigilante mob.

He, however, had to give in as the mob comprising hundreds of charged protesters overpowered him.

Diyawadana was beaten to death and his body burned by a mob in Sialkot, a city in Pakistan s northeastern Punjab province, on Friday.

"On behalf of the nation I want to salute moral courage & bravery of Malik Adnan who tried his utmost to shelter & save Priyantha Diyawadana from the vigilante mob in Sialkot incl endangering his own life by physically trying to shield victim. We will award him Tamgha i Shujaat," Khan wrote on Twitter.