The Punjab government Thursday notified that the trial of the accused — involved in the killing of a Sri Lankan citizen — will be held in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A three-member special team of the prosecution headed by Abdul Rauf Wattoo will pursue the case. As per the notification, a daily progress report will be submitted to the Prosecutor General Punjab.

Sources claimed that the Sialkot lynching case hearing has entered its final stages.

Earlier, the Gujranwala Anti-terrorism court (ATC) had sentenced a man to one-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs10,000 for justifying the killing of a Sri Lankan citizen on social media and inciting religious sentiments.

Priyantha Kumara, a Sri Lankan citizen, general manager of Rajco Industry and Garments Factory, was lynched by a mob at the factory on Dec 3, 2021, on Wazirabad Road in Sialkot.

Convict Muhammad Adnan, 27, of Nizampur, Sialkot, uploaded a video on his YouTube channel of the murder of Priyantha and justified the killing and burning of the body.

On Dec 5, on the request of Assistant Sub-Inspector Mubarak Ali, an FIR was registered against Adnan at Ringpura Police Station for spreading religious hatred and inciting public sentiments.

Reporter Jamal Uddin Jamali