—— Multiple Churches vandalised in Jaranwala
—— Rangers called in to normalize situation
—— Bishop Azad Marshall says Bibles desecrated, Christians “tortured”
—— Interim PM vows “stern action” against culprits
—— Political, Religious leaders condemn the incident
DM Monitoring
Faisalabad: An enraged mob vandalised multiple churches in the Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad on Wednesday over blasphemy allegations, following which the paramilitary Rangers were called to the area and Section 144 was imposed, according to officials.
A Christian leader, Akmal Bhatti, said the crowd had torched at least five churches and looted valuables from houses that had been abandoned by their owners after clerics made announcements in mosques inciting the mob.
Images on social media showed smoke rising from the church buildings and people setting fire to furniture that had been dragged from them. A Christian cemetery was also vandalised, as well as the local government office.
Dozens of people blocked a nearby highway as well.
Jaranwala pastor Imran Bhatti told Dawn.com that the ransacked churches included the Salvation Army Church, United Presbyterian Church, Allied Foundation Church and Shehroonwala Church situated in the Isa Nagri area.
He added that the mob also demolished the house of a Christian cleaner, accused of blasphemy.
Meanwhile, the police registered a first information report against the accused under sections 295B (defiling, etc., of the Holy Quran) and 295C (use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of the Holy Prophet) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
At night, the Punjab government said in a press release that directives had been issued for a “high-level inquiry” on the incident and arrests.
The provincial government attributed the incident to a “planned conspiracy under which an attempt was made to destroy peace in Pakistan”. It said that the “Holy Quran was desecrated and the sentiments of Muslims were hurt”.
The press release further said announcements were made from mosques that action was being taken against the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran, but the situation had aggravated by then.
It added that due to timely action by the police and administration, announcements were made in mosques that the authorities were taking action, but tensions had already escalated due to the alleged desecration.
“Around five to six thousand people gathered in various areas of Jaranwala in different groups, attempting to attack minority settlements. The police foiled their attempts at several places and damage to several buildings was also prevented due to timely action,” the press release read. “But continued attempts to attack Christian settlements in different areas and police continued to safeguard these localities.”
It said a peace committee was immediately mobilised, and together with members from different political parties, condemned the incident. They also assured that no party was in favour of damaging any properties owned by any of the minority communities.
According to the press release, no loss of life was reported during the incident while police had made over 100 arrests so far. Moreover, it said, footage of the incidents was being analysed through scientific methods and the Rangers too had been called to the area.
“Large contingents of police remain deployed in several area and continue to perform their duties,” the press release said, adding that security had also been also provided “to all places of worship”.
It said the Faisalabad commissioner and other officials were present near the Jaranwala.
Section 144 was imposed in Faisalabad district for seven days due to the “prevailing overall security situation”, according to a notification from the deputy commissioner’s office.
The section of the Code of Criminal Procedure empowers the district administration to issue orders in the public interest that may place a ban on an activity for a specific period of time.
Earlier, spokesperson for the Punjab chief secretary Imtiazul Hassan also told Dawn.com at night that the Rangers have been called to the area.
He said the provincial chief secretary and Punjab police chief Usman Anwar were at the site, claiming that the “situation was under control”.
Earlier, Anwar said the police were “negotiating” with the protesters and the area had been cordoned off.
“There are narrow lanes [in the area] in which small two to three marla churches are located and there is one main church … they have vandalised portions of the churches,” he said while speaking to Dawn.com.
The official stated that efforts were under way to contain the situation by engaging with peace committees and police across the province had been activated. No arrests have been made so far.
“The assistant commissioner of the area, a member of the Christian community, has also been evacuated after people turned against him,” Anwar added.
On the other hand, Christian leaders alleged that the police remained silent spectators.
Later in the evening, newly appointed interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said stern action would be taken against those who violate the law and target minorities.
“All law enforcement has been asked to apprehend culprits and bring them to justice,” he said on X (formerly Twitter), adding that the government stood with “our citizenry on equal basis”.
