Pakistan: Christians take to the streets to protest another mob attack over blasphemy

Angered members of the Christian community took to the streets to protest after a Muslim mob attacked a Muslim mob in Punjab’s Sargodha district over alleged blasphemy, reports Union of Catholic Asian News.

The incident took place on May 25 when an angry mob beat up a Christian man, vandalized his/her house and set fire to properties, accusing the incident of ‘blasphemy’ at Mujahid Colony in Sargodha in Punjab province in Pakistan.

“We demand justice [Christian] community. The tragedies are being repeated,” said Nosherwan Iqbal, chairman of the peace committee in Hazara division of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

According to UCA news, Christians gathered across cities from Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to southern Karachi in Sindh to protest the mob attack on two houses and a shoe factory in Punjab’s Sargodha district.

Following the incident, over 400 unidentified suspects were charged in Pakistan under terrorism and other crimes for attacking the Christian man and police officers in Sargodha district, about 200 km from Lahore, and 25 were arrested, Dawn reported. to be done.

Nazir Masih, a Christian factory owner, is accused of burning pages of the Quran in his/her residential area in Mujahid Colony and was attacked by a mob numbering over 400 and armed with sticks, bricks and stones.

“Our brother, a businessman, was the victim. We are peaceful people who are being pushed to their limits,” Iqbal told UCA News on May 26.

The case was registered by the state under sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997 and the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

However, the police also registered a case of blasphemy against a Christian man, a resident of Mujahid Colony, who was seriously injured by the mob but survived the assassination attempt by the mob. he/she was booked on the report of a Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan activist, identified as Muhammad Jahangir.

A local resident speaking to Dawn said that burnt pages of the Holy Quran were found on the lid of a water pump near the residence of a Christian man. However, no one saw him/her setting fire to the pages. According to the don, the man’s family is said to be polite and not associated with such activities.

A mob of religious persons tried to thrash a Christian man to death on Saturday. According to the case filed by Station House Officer (SHO) Shahid Iqbal, locals gathered in front of the man’s house armed with sticks, stones and weapons and tried to enter the house.

Amid efforts by the police, the Sargodha Peace Committee and other residents to resolve the situation through negotiations, the mob set fire to a shoe unit owned by the man’s son and attempted to enter his/her house from nearby rooftops. Tried.

The mob also destroyed the electricity meter and outdoor AC units outside the man’s house and set them on fire.

The situation could be brought under control after heavy police force reached the spot. Police station in-charge Iqbal and other police officers present at the spot saved the man from the burning house.

However, as soon as they brought him/her out, the mob surrounded them, pelted stones and beat him/her with sticks, leaving the man seriously injured.

According to the FIR, some women are also involved in the violence. The case was registered under several sections of the ATA and PPC, including attempt to murder, obstructing public officers in the discharge of their duty, assault on a public officer and destroying a house with intent to cause death or hurt. Involved causing mischief by fire or explosive materials.

Following the incident, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Anwar and Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal visited Sargodha and inspected the crime scene.

In response to the incident, Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora took note of the alleged blasphemy and contacted the Punjab Home Secretary.

Under the supervision of Sargodha District Police Officer Asad Ijaz Malhi, security at churches across the district was tightened and more than 1,000 security personnel were deployed at churches on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Sargodha District Police Officer Asad Ijaz Malhi told Dawn that the incident took place over alleged desecration. Police cordoned off two houses in the colony and “evacuated all the residents safely,” he/she said.

According to Dawn, unverified footage on social media showed a crowd surrounding an injured man and separate videos showed men, some of whom appeared to be teenagers, breaking furniture outside a house. Are.

When asked about the videos, DPO Malhi said that these were “fake videos” and insisted that no one was hurt in Sargodha district. “Police are maintaining law and order,” he/she said.

More than 200 Christian families, half of them Catholic, have fled Sargodha as the crucial Punjab province was hit by another mob attack over blasphemy in August last year.

This is one of many episodes that highlight the precarious situation faced by religious minorities in Pakistan, who continue to face persecution and threats of attacks.