Pakistan: Several churches were set on fire in Jardanwala, Rangers were called.

Pakistan: Violent protests against the alleged desecration of the Quran in Jardanwala set fire to several churches, Rangers were called.

 

After the incident of alleged desecration of the Quran in Faisalabad's Jardanwala, angry protesters have set fire to several churches, while apart from the Christian Colony, government buildings have also been vandalized. Officials say that the situation in the city is still tense, and Rangers have been called in to control the situation.

According to the district administration, this series of protests started on Wednesday morning when reports of the alleged desecration of Quran pages by a few youths in an area called Isa Nagri started circulating in the city and on social media. The agitators began to gather near Cinema Chowk.

 

Two churches were destroyed by the angry mob. A church in Isa Nagri neighborhood was targeted by the mob, and a church near the telephone exchange about a kilometer away was also targeted.

AC Jardanwala Shaukat Masih, who was removed from the post after this incident, said that 'between eight and nine in the morning, we received reports of protest and setting fire in Isa Nagri by angry protesters.'

He said that 'the angry protestors are carrying sticks in their hands and the office of AC Jardanwala was also attacked by such a group.'

According to the officials, efforts are being made to control the situation and 150 jawans of Rangers are reaching Jaranwala from Lahore.

 

Pakistan: Violent protests against the alleged desecration of the Quran in Jardanwala set fire to several churches, Rangers were called.

Hussam, an eyewitness to the incident and a local journalist of Jaranwala, said that between Tuesday and Wednesday night in Christian Colony, a young man named Amir wrote some pamphlets which allegedly fall under the category of blasphemy, and he allegedly blasphemed the Holy Quran. He desecrated some of the papers as well.

He said that after the Fajr prayer, when the incident was reported, a large number of angry people gathered in the area and started vandalism.

An official of the Jardanwala police station also confirmed that some houses in the Christian settlement have been set on fire by the protesters, while there are also reports of looting.

An eyewitness said on condition of anonymity that the situation is still tense in various areas of the city including Christian Colony, Nasir Colony, Isa Nagri, Maharawala, Chak No. 120. So far six churches have been burnt in the city. A case has also been registered by the Jaranwala police on Wednesday against two Christian youths on charges of desecration of the Quran and blasphemy.

In the FIR of the case, it is said that when the complainant reached the spot, they found Quran papers with red pencils written on them and a calendar was made, but the accused had fled from the spot.

In a message issued by the Faisalabad Police on Twitter, it has been addressed to the citizens of Jaranwala and said that a case has been registered against those who desecrate the Holy Quran in the city police station, Jaranwala, so the protestors will not use provocation and vandalism. Avoid'.

According to the police, raids have also been conducted to arrest the accused, but they have escaped.

This is not the first time in Pakistan that Christian communities have been targeted following alleged blasphemy charges.

In the year 2013, hundreds of Christians were displaced as a result of such an attack and arson on Joseph Colony in Badami Bagh area of Lahore, while a serious law and order problem arose in the area.

Earlier in August 2009, at least six Christians were killed as a result of Muslim-Christian riots in Gujra, another tehsil of Faisalabad district.

In a village of Gojra, the riots started when the Muslim population of the village, enraged over the alleged desecration of the Quran during a Christian wedding, stormed a Christian settlement and destroyed about forty houses. The fire was set.

The incident was strongly condemned on social media

Bishop Azad Marshall, the first Bishop of the Church of Pakistan, said in a tweet on social media about the targeting of houses of worship and houses of the Christian community by the angry mob in Jaranwala.

He wrote in his tweet that while I am writing this words are falling short. We, bishops, priests and lay people are deeply saddened by the incident of Jaranwala in Faisalabad district of Pakistan. As I write this message, the church building is being burned. The Bible has been desecrated and Christians have been persecuted and falsely accused of desecrating the Holy Quran.

As we demand justice, we demand immediate action from the law enforcement agencies to assure us that the lives and property of our people are precious to our country which has just celebrated its independence. After which, on the social media, the angry mob ransacked the houses of the Christian population and set fire to the churches in Jaranwala, politicians, journalists, and all the people belonging to the religious faith have condemned it.

Pakistan's Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar has given his reaction to this and said that "I am worried to see the scenes emerging from Faisalabad's Jaranwala Tehsil." Strict action will be taken against those who violate the law and target minorities. All law enforcement agencies have been asked to nab the culprits and bring them to justice. Rest assured that the Government of Pakistan stands with our citizens on the basis of equality.