FAISALABAD: A mob attacked a Christian neighborhood and destroyed churches after a man was accused of blasphemy.
The mob burned houses and churches in Issa Nagri quarter of Jaranwala in district Faisalabad. The situation remains violent as police reached the spot to control the deteriorating law and order situation.
Many of the residents fled after the mob entered the area. The mob vandalized a church and destroyed the cross perched at the top. They proceeded towards ransacking another church in the area.
Pastor Imran Bhatti said four situated in the Isa Nagri area were ransacked. He added that the house of a Christian cleaner, who was accused of blasphemy, was also demolished.
Punjab police chief Usman Anwar said the police were negotiating with the protesters and the area had been cordoned off.
President Bishop Church of Pakistan Azad Marshall, “Words fail me as I write this. We, Bishops, Priests and lay people are deeply pained and distressed at the Jaranwala incident in the Faisalabad District in Pakistan”.
“A church building is being burnt as I type this message. Bibles have been desecrated and Christians have been tortured and harrased having been falsely accused of violating the Holy Quran.”
“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.”
Words fail me as I write this. We, Bishops, Priests and lay people are deeply pained and distressed at the Jaranwala incident in the Faisalabad District in Pakistan. A church building is being burnt as I type this message. Bibles have been desecrated and Christians have been… pic.twitter.com/xruE83NPXL
— Bishop Azad Marshall (@BishopAzadM) August 16, 2023
Horrific persecution of Pakistani Christians taking place right now in Faisalabad. Their homes are being torched. There’s nobody to help. Journalists who want to cover please DM me #Pakistan #faisalabad #blasphemyLaw pic.twitter.com/42iBIG3UDU
— Sara Taseer (@sarataseer) August 16, 2023
