Two Christians accused of blasphemy arrested in Pakistan after mob burnt
churches
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[August 18, 2023]
By Mubasher Bukhari and Asif Shahzad
LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - Police in Pakistan have arrested two
Christians accused of blasphemy, a spokesperson said on Friday, two days
after a Muslim mob burnt churches and houses in the minority's
settlement, saying the two men had desecrated the Koran.
The accusations against the two Christians relates to pages of the Koran
found with some derogatory remarks written in red, police said.
Paramilitary troops have been guarding the settlement in the eastern
part of the country after the mob vandalized at least one main and four
small churches and set scores of houses on fire.
A Christian graveyard was also desecrated, residents and the community
leaders said, adding the mob dragged belongings from Christians' houses
and set them on fire in the streets, and took away valuables which they
could carry.
Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan and though no one has ever
been executed, numerous accused people have been lynched by outraged
mobs. A former provincial governor and a minister for minorities were
shot dead just because they had tried to reform the blasphemy law.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar said on Friday that
minorities have to be protected at all costs, promising to take action
against those involved in violence.
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"There won't be any favor. There won't be any fear," he said in his
first Cabinet meeting telecast live.
Police said they have so far rounded up 128 people involved in the
attack on the Christian community in Jaranwala in Faisalabad industrial
district on Wednesday.
The attack continued for more than 10 hours without any intervention by
police who were at the scene, residents and community leaders said.
Police have denied the accusation, saying security forces had prevented
an even worse situation.
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![](../images/081823PIX/news_a48.jpg)
Members of the Christian community chant
slogans as they hold placards and banners to condemn the attacks on
churches and houses in Jaranwala town of Faisalabad, during a
protest in Peshawar, Pakistan August 17, 2023. REUTERS/Fayaz Aziz
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RETURNING HOME
Residents said thousands of Muslims led by local clerics were seen
carrying iron rods, sticks, knives and daggers during the rioting.
Hundreds of Christians had fled the settlement and took refuge in a
nearby district.
The displaced families have started returning to their homes, Akmal
Bhatti, a community leader, told Reuters.
Friday's Muslim prayer sermons will focus on minorities' rights to
calm down the situation, a government statement said.
Rights groups and Washington have called on Pakistani authorities to
ensure the protection of minorities.
"The vicious mob attacks are just the latest manifestation of the
threat of vigilante violence which anyone can face in Pakistan after
a blasphemy accusation," Amnesty International said in a statement.
Rights groups say accusations of blasphemy are sometimes used to
settle scores and accused are lynched by mobs before a trial could
begin. It said hundreds of people were also languishing in prison
after being accused of the crime because judges delay trials,
fearing retribution if they are seen as being lenient toward
accused.
(Writing and reporting by Asif Shahzad in Islamabad; Editing by Kim
Coghill)
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