Paramilitary troops have cordoned off a Christian settlement in eastern Pakistan where a Muslim mob vandalised and torched several churches and scores of houses after accusing two of its residents of desecrating the Holy Quran, police and witnesses said on Thursday.146 protestors held.
The attack took place in Jaranwala in the industrial district of Faisalabad on Wednesday, and continued for more than 10 hours without any intervention by police who were at the scene, residents and community leaders said.
Police denied the accusation, saying security forces had prevented an even worse situation. The rioters were demanding that the two accused, who had fled their homes, be handed over to them.
The residents said thousands of Muslims led by local clerics were carr
ying iron rods, sticks, knives and daggers during the rioting.
A provincial government statement said paramilitary troops were deployed to aid the police to control the situation.
The troops have cordoned off the Christian colony, blocking all entry and exit points with barbed wire, according to a Reuters TV cameraman.
Over 100 people suspected of being involved in the rioting have been arrested, the government statement said, adding that an inquiry has also been ordered into the incident.
The United States was “deeply concerned that churches and homes were targeted,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Wednesday.
Demands justice and action
"We cry out for justice and action from law enforcement and those who dispense justice and the safety of all citizens to intervene immediately and assure us that our lives are valuable in our own homeland that has just celebrated independence and freedom,” he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Bishop Marshall added that all priests, bishops and lay people were “deeply pained and distressed” at the incident. Former senator Afrasiab Khattak condemned the incident and demanded that the culprits should be brought to book.
"Pakistani state has failed to provide security to the worship places of people who follow religions other than Islam. Impunity to the crimes committed in the name of religion has emboldened extremists and terrorists,” he added.
Minorities subjected to blasphemy
Minorities including Christians and Hindus in Pakistan have frequently been subjected to blasphemy allegations and some were tried and even sentenced under the tough blasphemy law.