Mob destroys multiple churches in Jaranwala. On Wednesday, an enraged crowd vandalized a number of churches in Faisalabad’s Jaranwala tehsil over blasphemy allegations.
According to a pastor, the Salvation Army Church, United Presbyterian Church, Allied Foundation Church, and Shehroonwala Church in the Isa Nagri region were all destroyed during the incidents.
He claimed that demonstrators also burned down the home of a Christian cleaner suspected of blasphemy.
Police have filed a first information report (FIR) against the suspects under Pakistan Penal Code sections 295B (defiling, etc., of the Holy Quran) and 295C (use of disparaging words, etc., in regard to the Holy Prophet).
Also read: Mardan mob lynches man over ‘blasphemy’ in PTI rally
Usman Anwar, the Inspector General of Police in Punjab, stated that police officers were negotiating with the demonstrators and that the area had been roped off to prevent more damage.
Meanwhile, Punjab Home Department spokesperson Amjad Kalyar stated that a request for the deployment of Rangers in the region has been sent.
President Bishop of the Church of Pakistan Azad Marshall has condemned the incident. Taking to Twitter, her wrote: “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”.
Mob destroys multiple churches in Jaranwala, check the Tweet:
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
“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 added.
