PAKISTAN: In a distressing incident, a Muslim mob launched an attack on an eastern Pakistani Christian community, resulting in the torching of numerous homes and the vandalism of multiple churches.
This violent act was spurred by accusations against two community members for desecrating the Quran, as reported by both law enforcement and community leaders.
The unsettling episode unfolded in Jaranwala, situated within Faisalabad’s industrial district. Police spokesman Naveed Ahmad confirmed the location, asserting that two Christians were alleged to have committed blasphemy.
Consequently, these individuals, along with their family members, evacuated their residences to escape potential harm.
Shakil Masih, a resident, recounted hearing incitement calls from the mob, followed by a surge of people advancing towards the Christian area. “I promptly left my home with my family. Many other families did the same,” he narrated.
Punjab’s interim information minister, Amir Mir, disclosed that over 100 individuals were apprehended later that Wednesday. “People who attacked the churches are being identified through video footage,” he conveyed.
The police detailed that the allegations involving the Christians revolved around pages of the Quran containing derogatory comments written in red ink.
Blasphemy is a grave offense in Pakistan, carrying a potential death penalty, although no executions have taken place under this charge.
Regrettably, instances exist where enraged mobs have taken the law into their own hands and lynched accused individuals. Notably, previous blasphemy allegations have led to the tragic deaths of a former provincial governor and a minister for minorities.
Rights organizations point out that allegations of blasphemy are occasionally wielded as tools to settle personal disputes.
Many individuals find themselves incarcerated due to these accusations, as judicial authorities often delay trials out of concern for potential backlash if perceived as too lenient.
“The frequency and severity of such systematic and often uncontrollable attacks appear to have risen over the past few years,” highlighted the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
This rights organization has urged the establishment and proper empowerment of specialized police forces to safeguard places of worship for religious minorities, as directed by a 2014 Supreme Court ruling.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar called for robust actions against those responsible for the violent act on Wednesday. He expressed, “I am deeply disturbed by the visuals that have emerged.”
Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson of the State Department, voiced the United States’ deep concern over the targeted assault on churches and homes.
Patel urged Pakistani authorities to thoroughly investigate these allegations while appealing for calm among all parties involved.
Christian leader Akmal Bhatti recounted reports of a mob allegedly setting fire to at least five churches, pillaging vacant homes, and staging a highway blockade with the participation of hundreds.
Video footage captured individuals using sledgehammers to assault a church and ignite fires.
The massive crowd, consisting of thousands, was reportedly led by local clerics, predominantly affiliated with the Islamist political group Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), according to an official source.
TLP denied allegations of instigating violence and asserted their cooperation with law enforcement to de-escalate the situation.
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