US, EU express concern over church attacks in Jaranwala

WASHINGTON: The United States called on Pakistan to probe the mob attacks against churches and Christian homes in  Jaranwala town of district Faisalabad.

Hundreds of men attacked a predominantly Christian area on after rumours spread that the Holy Quran had been desecrated. The mob went on a rampage and destroyed several churches and burned the houses of several Christians who fled the area amid the violence.

“We are deeply concerned that churches and homes were targeted in response to reported Quran desecration in Pakistan,” State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

He said that while the United States backed free expression, “violence or the threat of violence is never an acceptable form of expression.”

“We urge Pakistani authorities to conduct a full investigation into these allegations and call for calm,” he said.

Disturbing reports out of #Jaranwala. The degree to which a society’s minorities feel safe, in , in the , around the , is a measure of respect for the rule of law, for tolerance of diversity, a core EU value. We call for restoring calm & order. @EUPakistan https://t.co/UvYkdAs4mQ

— Riina Kionka (@RKionka) August 16, 2023

EU Ambassador to Pakistan Riina Kionka also expressed concerns over the “distressing reports” coming from Jaranwala.

“The degree to which a society’s minorities feel safe, in Pakistan, in the EU, around the world, is a measure of respect for the rule of law, for tolerance of diversity, a core EU value,” the envoy said.  The ambassador called for restoring calm and order.

Caretaker PM vows ‘stern action’

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar vowed to take “stern action” against a crowd that attacked Christians in eastern Pakistan and set churches on fire on Wednesday, over accusations they had desecrated the holy Qur’an.

“I am gutted by the visuals coming out of Jaranwala,#Faisalabad,” Kakar wrote on the X platform. “Stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities.”

He said the law enforcement agencies had been tasked to arrest all culprits involved in the incident and bring them to book.

The incident took place in Jaranwala town where a violent crowd had attacked the community after two Christians were accused of blasphemy and set several houses on fire. Rangers was deployed in the area to control the situation and over 50 people have been arrested.