Churches vandalised in Pakistan’s Punjab province over blasphemy allegations

PTI, Aug 16, 2023, 6:59 PM IST

Viral images of churches being vandalised shared on social media (Source: X(Twitter)/@BishopAzadM)

Lahore: At least five churches were vandalised and ransacked by an angry mob in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Wednesday over allegations of desecration of Islam’s holy book, forcing authorities to deploy paramilitary forces to protect the minority Christian community who were besieged.

The incidents took place after a Christian man and his sister allegedly desecrated the Quran and made objectionable comments, police said.

The incident took place in Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad district of Punjab, some 130 km from the provincial capital Lahore.

The Pakistan Rangers have been called in to control the situation and protect the Christian community living in Chamra Mandi Jaranwala. The situation in the area is currently very tense as the Christian community has reportedly been besieged by the mob.

Imran Bhatti, the pastor of the Jaranwala told Dawn.com that the mob had ”torched” five churches so far in Jaranwala. They include the Salvation Army Church, United Presbyterian Church, Allied Foundation Church and two churches at Shehroonwala located in the Isa Nagri area in the Jaranwala.

Bhatti added that the house of a Christian cleaner, who was accused of blasphemy, was also demolished.

”Heavy contingent of police reached the spot after an enraged mob ransacked at least five churches and set fire furniture, copies of the Bible, Cross etc,” a Christian resident of the area told PTI, requesting anonymity. He said a large number of people attacked the churches following the announcement from mosques that a Christian man had desecrated the Quran.

”Seeing the enraged mob heading towards the Christian community in Chamra Mandi, the Christians ran for their lives, some succeeded in leaving the area while others locked themselves up in their houses,” he said.

As a heavy contingent of police struggled to control the mob, Assistant Commissioner Faisalabad sent a SoS to the Pakistan Rangers to rush to the area to control the law-and-order situation.

”Despite the best efforts of police, the law-and-order situation stands still too sensitive and vulnerable. You are requested to send at least two companies of Rangers to control the law-and-order situation in Jaranwala tehsil Faisalabad,” the assistant commissioner wrote to the Punjab Home Department.

Jaranwala City Police Station official Asif Ali told PTI that Muhammad Afzal and four other Muslims of Chamra Mandi accused Raja Amir Masih and his sister Raki Masih of desecrating the Quran and making objectionable comments about the Prophet.

”Police booked both brother and sister under 295-C and 295-B of Pakistan Penal Code and constituted a police team for their arrest,” he said and added the police had secured the house of the accused as a mob also surrounded it and pelted it with stones.

The Masih family had already fled, Ali said, adding that no FIR for the ransacking of churches has been registered yet.

Interim Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar said stern action would be taken against those who violate the law and target minorities.

”I am gutted by the visuals coming out of Jaranwala, Faisalabad. Stern action would be taken against those who violate the law and target minorities. All law enforcement has been asked to apprehend culprits & bring them to justice. Rest assured that the government of Pakistan stands with our citizenry on an equal basis,” he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Under 295C, suspect(s) face the death penalty or life imprisonment for defiling the Prophet. Under section 295 B, whosoever desecrates a copy of the Quran or of an extract therefrom or uses it in any derogatory manner or for any unlawful purpose shall be punishable with imprisonment for life.

Punjab police chief Usman Anwar said the police were negotiating with the protesters and the area had been cordoned off.

”There are narrow lanes (in the area) in which small two to three marla churches are located and there is one main church … they have vandalised portions of the churches,” Anwar was quoted as saying by Dawn.com.

The official said that efforts were underway to contain the situation by engaging with peace committees and police across the province have been activated.

”The assistant commissioner of the area, a member of the Christian community, has also been evacuated after people turned against him,” Anwar added.

However, Christian leaders alleged that the police remained silent spectators.

President Bishop of the Church of Pakistan Azad Marshall said that ”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 said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Bishop Marshall added that all priests, bishops and lay people were “deeply pained and distressed” at the incident.

Former interior minister Rana Sanaullah strongly condemned the ”dastardly attack” and stressed that the culprits should be brought to justice at the earliest.

”The culprits must be brought to justice at the earliest, and the law should take its due course. Extremism and hatred nullify the fundamental principles of Islam,” he said.

Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said he was horrified to hear about today’s attack, asserting that violating the sanctity of worship places was “absolutely unacceptable”.

”The administration must ensure the safety of the Christian community and their Churches,” he said in a post on X.

Former senator Afrasiab Khattak condemned the incident and demanded that the culprits should be brought to book.

Minorities including Christians and Hindus in Pakistan have frequently been subjected to blasphemy allegations and some were tried and even sentenced under the tough blasphemy. According a report by the Centre for Peace and Justice Pakistan in June last year, based on data collected from National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Pakistan is home to 22,10,566 people from the minority Hindu community followed by Christians 18,73,348.