LAHORE (UNA): Multiple churches were attacked on Wednesday in Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad over blasphemy allegations.
Media reports stated that a mob of over 100 people stormed a local Christian neighbourhood in Jaranwala and set ablaze at least one church, the Salvation Army Church, one of the oldest in the area. The United Presbyterian Church, Allied Foundation Church and Shehroonwala Church situated in Isa Nagri were also reportedly ransacked.
Locals accused the police of standing by as spectators as hundreds of people, armed with sticks and batons, vandalised the churches besides ransacking and even burning homes in the residential area.
As panic spread in the area, traders shut down shops and a strike was called. The situation remained tense despite policemen led by the Jaranwala SP being present on site. The mob also blocked the area surrounding Cinema Chowk.
The police attempted to give assurances of action against the blasphemy accused but the mob remained adamant that they would hang the accused themselves.
The mob was reportedly incited using loudspeakers of mosques in the area over reports of alleged desecration of religious scriptures by three Christians, suggested videos and messages posted on social media by people of the area.
An FIR was lodged against the persons accused of blasphemy under Sections 295B [pertaining to the desecration of the Holy Quran] and 295C [use of derogatory remarks…in respect of the Holy Prophet] of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
The police have yet to take action against the mob that caused panic and terror in the area besides damaging private property.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner Jardanwala Shaukat Masih has been immediately transferred and Rana Aurangzeb, the Assistant Commissioner Tandliwala, has been given the additional charge.
A notification has been issued by Services and General Administration Department Punjab in this connection.
Rangers paramilitary force has been called in to normalise the situation.
In a statement made on social media, the president Bishop of the Church of Pakistan Azad called for justice.
“A church building is being burnt as I type this message. Bibles have been desecrated and Christians have been tortured and harassed having been falsely accused of violating the Holy Quran. We cry out for justice and action from law enforcement and those who dispense justice and the safety of all citizens to intervene immediately and assure us that our lives are valuable in our own homeland that has just celebrated independence and freedom,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Following the violence in Faisalabad’s Jaranwala over blasphemy allegations, interim Punjab Information Minister Amir Mir said on Wednesday that “dozens of people who disturbed peace” in the area have been detained.
In a statement, the minister said that the violence in Jaranwala was done under a “well-thought-out conspiracy”.
“There was a plan to disturb the peace by inciting public sentiments. After the desecration of the Holy Quran, the angry protesters reacted strongly,” Mir said, adding that the situation in Faisalabad is fully under control now.
The provincial info minister also said that the investigation into the tragic incident of the desecration of the holy book is underway at a fast pace, adding that anyone who tries to take the law into his hands would be arrested immediately.
The security of churches, he said, has been tightened and a large number of law enforcers have been deployed. More than 6,000 policemen and Rangers personnel are present in the affected areas, he added.
The minister also shared that in today’s incidents, no one was injured nor was there any loss of life.
Mir went on to say that the Punjab chief secretary and Inspector General of Punjab Police have reached Jaranwala on the instructions of caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Wednesday directed law enforcement agencies to apprehend culprits behind the vandalisation of churches in Jaranwala, Faisalabad over blasphemy allegations.
“I am gutted by the visuals coming out of Jaranwala, Faisalabad. Stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities,” said Kakar in a post on X, the microblogging website formerly known as Twitter.
The interim premier also said that all law enforcement agencies have asked to “apprehend culprits and bring them to justice”.
“Rest assured that the government of Pakistan stands with our citizenry on equal basis,” he added.
Shehbaz, Bilawal condemn incident
Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif also slammed the incident, saying: “What is happening in Jaranwala is sad and disturbing.”
“There is no place for violence in any religion. All religious places, Books and personages are sacred and deserve our highest level of respect. I urge the government to take action against the culprits,” the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president added.
The former premier also appealed to the “religious scholars from all schools of thought to come forward and condemn the reprehensible actions”.
“Such madness can’t be allowed. Pakistan belongs to all religious minorities,” Shehbaz said on X.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also condemned the incident.
“Horrified to hear about the attack on Churches in Jaranwala, Faisalabad, violating the sanctity of places of worship is absolutely unacceptable. The administration must ensure the safety of the Christian community and their Churches,” Bilawal said on X.
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