Vidushi Nautiyal, Pune
In Pakistan’s Faisalabad on Wednesday, a mob attacked eight churches and the surrounding Christian settlements. This was followed by accusations of blasphemy for “desecrating the holy Quran and abusing the Prophet Mohammed.”
The incident happened in Jaranwala, the industrial district of Faisalabad. The Muslim population was outraged when derogatory comments against the Quran were made by a Christian man employed in the mosque. The blasphemy started with destroying this man’s house, and then further destruction followed.
According to the police, an FIR was also filed against the Christian man under sections 295B and 295C of the Pakistan Penal Code for defiling the Holy Quran and the use of derogatory remarks.
Imran Bhatti, the pastor of the Jaranwala tehsil, told Dawn that several churches in the Isa Nagri district, including the Salvation Army Church, Allied Foundation Church, United Presbyterian Church, and Shehroonwala Church, were vandalized by the mob.
Local Christians expressed frustration that the authorities did little to stop the destruction of the minorities in Pakistan. However, as per Dawn, Usman Anwar, the Chief of the Punjab Police, stated they were negotiating with the mob while the surrounding area had been sealed off.
Viral videos revealed images of a frantic mob storming churches and trampling the holy cross, a revered symbol for the Christian community.
Azad Marshall, the President Bishop of the Church of Pakistan, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Bibles had been desecrated, Christian citizens tortured, harassed, and “falsely accused of violating the Holy Quran”.
Afrasiab Khattak, a former senator, condemned the unfortunate occurrence and demanded that those responsible be held accountable.
“Pakistani state has failed to provide security to the worship places of people who follow religions other than Islam. Impunity to the crimes committed in the name of religion has emboldened extremists and terrorists,” he said.