Churches attacked in Pakistan's Faisalabad over blasphemy allegations

Hundreds of people, armed with sticks and batons, stormed a local Christian colony in the Jaranwala area of Faisalabad,one of the wealthiest and most industrialised citiesin Pakistan, on Wednesday (August 16)morning and attacked twochurches and adjoining buildings over what they claimed was blasphemy allegedly committed by a local resident.

One church was set on fire while the mob tried to vandalise another.

The attack sparked fear and panic inthe area. Shops in the local market were shut as armed mobs roamed the streets.

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Videos and messages from locals suggested thatloudspeakers of mosques were used to convey alleged desecration of religious scriptures by two local Christian residents, Rocky and Raja.

Thougha heavy contingent of police reached the area and assured the swelling mob that the suspects would be apprehended and would face action as per the law, thecrowds proceeded to attack the colony.

The government of Pakistan'sPunjab province called in Pakistani Rangers to control the violent situation. There are reports that churches and members of the minority Christian community are being attacked at different locations across the city.

Watch | Pakistan: Mob attack on Church in Faisalabad following Blasphemy allegations on Christian family

Christian residents of the area appeared to have fled.

The Salvation Army Church, the church the mob tried to vandalise, is one of the oldest churchesin the area.

A Christian leader, Akmal Bhatti, said the crowd had torched at least five churches and looted valuables from houses that had been abandoned by their owners after clerics made announcements in mosques inciting the mob, said a Dawn report.

Images on social media showed smoke rising from church buildings and people dragging out furniture from them and setting it fire on. A Christian cemetery was also vandalised, the report added.

Police registered an first information report against the blasphemy accused under sections 295B (defiling, etc., of the Holy Quran) and 295C (use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of the Holy Prophet) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Pakistan's caretaker PM Anwaar ul Haq Kakar has taken note on the incident and posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that those guilty would be punished.

"I am gutted by the visuals coming out of Jaranwala,#Faisalabad. Stern action would be taken against those who violate 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 equal basis," Kakar posted.

Kakar was responding to the post on X by Bishop Azad Marshall, who is the President Bishop of Church of Pakistan. Marshall had expressed his anguish over the violence.

While an FIR has been registered under blasphemy allegations of Article 295-C, the situation in the area remains tense.Police are trying to get the situation under their control.

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