Blasphemy Mob Vandalised 17 Churches, 80 Homes: NCHR

News Desk

Islamabad: A total of 17 churches were gutted in the unfortunate Jaranwala incident, including 12 registered and 5 smaller, unregistered churches.

According to an inquiry conducted by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) on Thursday, some 80 homes have been vandalized and damaged, of which 30 to 40 have been completely burned.

The team, led by NCHR Chairperson Rabiya Javeri Agha, visited Jaranwala on Thursday to inquire into the illegal desecration of churches and homes belonging to the Christian community.

The delegation held meetings with the Faisalabad Commissioner, Silwat Saeed, the Regional Police Officer (RPO), and officers of the district administration. The team also met families of the affected community and saw first-hand the devastation wrought by the rioters the day before. Silwat Saeed said that two committees for the assessment of damages and inquiry have already been notified.

The Commission was informed that the Punjab government has pledged to repair all damaged homes and churches immediately. For this purpose, the Secretary of Works and Services Punjab was in Jaranwala for such an assessment.

The Commission was informed that five FIRs under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and sections 324 and 353 Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) have been registered against 128 persons. The accused are under arrest and will be presented for arraignment tomorrow.

Read More:https://thepenpk.com/jaranwalla-an-eye-opener-to-extremism/

To maintain calm, Section 144 has been imposed, and 3500 policemen have been deployed in the area to keep a check on the situation. The NCHR team was told that 180 rangers were deployed in the city on the night of the incident.

According to some people that NCHR interviewed, the issue erupted following a financial dispute between two parties; however, this has not been verified.

While the Christian and Muslim communities were in the middle of negotiations, the mob came from behind and started rioting. Thankfully, due to prompt action by the administration and church, people were speedily informed and left before any fatal casualties occurred.

Faisalabad is a hotbed for religious violence. Many incidents of allegations of blasphemy and desecration of churches have already been reported from this area. The government must look to address interfaith harmony and cultivate  tolerance, said Agha.

The mob consisted of around 1200 people, and most were young men. It is reported that mosque loudspeaker announcements were used to incite religious sentiments.

The situation is still tense in the area. Section 144 has been imposed in these areas. There would be Jumma congregations on Friday, and following that would be Sunday Church for the Christian community. Special measures have to be in place to avoid any hostile situation in the future,” the commissioner added.

The Commission requests prompt action from the police in apprehending perpetrators and in ensuring the structure and due process of the law. The affected community must be informed of updates regarding the situation.