Police announced in Pakistan FRIDAY 19 churches and more than 80 Christian homes were vandalized in the wake of an attack by hundreds of Muslim residents in response to allegations of blasphemy this week.
In this regard, Punjab police chief Usman Anwar said: “The events that took place were tragic. Violence like this can never be justified,” adding that he will travel to the city of Garanwala on Sunday to express his solidarity with Christians.
Osman Anwar also confirmed that he himself interrogated two Christian brothers who were accused desecration of the Qur’an To avoid accusations of torture. Police said an additional 128 people were arrested in connection with the incidents.
Violence erupted when crowds stormed the Garanwala area on the outskirts of the industrial city of Faisalabad, after accusations spread that Christians had desecrated the Koran. Families were forced to flee after an attack by hundreds of Muslim residents, who burned and destroyed churches and homes.
He also explained the same source that the police on Friday, guarding 3200 churches across the state of Punjab to reassure Christians.
The government and religious leaders called for calm. While Christian groups organized small protests across the country calling for more protection. At a small gathering, the Archbishop of Karachi, Penny Travis, said: “We hope that through this demonstration, the government realizes that this issue must be dealt with firmly and that those who have committed the destruction must be brought to justice.”
The interim Punjab government chief, Mohsin Naqvi, expressed his solidarity with the Christians, adding that they would be compensated for their losses. The state government announced an investigation into the violence.
Blasphemy is a sensitive issue in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where angry mobs have killed people over accusations of insulting Islam or the Prophet Muhammad. Since 1990, at least 85 people have been killed in connection with allegations of blasphemy, according to local media and researchers.
This includes individuals accused of blasphemy and their children, as well as lawyers and judges who tried their cases, and others.
Among the dead were people belonging to religious minorities, prominent politicians, students, clerics and mentally ill. These were hanged by mobs, shot in courtrooms, beaten, or burned to death.
France 24/AFP
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2023-08-18 17:31:53
