Pakistan: Fanatics set fire to five churches in Faisalabad city of Punjab province on Wednesday. The houses of Christians were first looted, then they were also set on fire. Radical groups allege that these churches are promoting blasphemy.
In a conversation with Pakistan’s newspaper ‘The Dawn’, Christian leader Imran Bhati said – Our five churches were burnt. People in the community were assaulted. After looting, their houses were set on fire. On the other hand, a police officer said – talks are being held to keep the attackers calm.
Many videos of this incident are going viral on social media. The faces of the accused can also be recognized in these. Despite the video coming to the fore, no statement has been issued by Pakistan’s caretaker government and army so far.
NEW: Pakistani Islamist locals attack a Church in Faislabad of Punjab after falsely accusing a Christian minority family of blasphemy. Pakistan has been accused of atrocities against minority Hindus, Sikhs, Hindus & Ahmediyas over last many years. https://t.co/6QHOxvRsGm
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) August 16, 2023
According to the report of ‘Pakistan Daily’, a rumor spread in Faisalabad on Wednesday morning that blasphemy has been committed in the church here. It was also said that this process has been going on for a long time and the Christians living in the area are promoting it.
On the other hand, in a conversation with the newspaper, ‘The Dawn’, Christian community leader Imran Bhati said – our five churches have been targeted. After vandalism, they were set on fire. The houses of the Christians living here were looted. After this, the fire also broke out.
Within no time, hundreds of fanatics reached the churches and Christian settlements of the Jaranwala area. All of them had sharp weapons, sticks, and petrol in their hands.
First of all these people entered the church. vandalized there. After this reached the roof of the church and dropped the cross. After some time the church was set on fire by pouring petrol.
This crowd did not stop there. He targeted the houses of Christian people living in the area. He was asked his name and after that, he was beaten on the road. These incidents were carried out in front of the police, but the police did not take any action.