PAKISTAN: BLASPHEMY/PROTEST

Headline

Mob Attacks Christian Churches, Property over Blasphemy Charges in Pakistan’s Faisalabad

Intro

Churches defaced in Faisalabad amid blasphemy allegations.

Story

PAKISTAN: BLASPHEMY/PROTEST  uploaded on TNN 34 FTP on WEDNESDAY  (AUGUST 16, 2023)

STORY: A crowd of hundreds of Muslims attacked a Christian community in Pakistan’s Faisalabad city on Wednesday (August 16), setting scores of houses on fire and ransacking at least four Churches after accusing two of its members of desecrating the Koran, police and community leaders said.

The mob was made up of thousands of people led by local clerics, mainly from an Islamist political party called Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), a government source said.  
The attack took place in Jaranwala in the industrial district of Faisalabad. The two Christians were accused of blasphemy, along with their family members had fled their homes, police said.
The police case against the two Christians is that they found pages of the Koran with some derogatory remarks written in red.

Around two dozen Christians protested in Karachi.
“We demand that equal security should be given to all citizens across Pakistan. We condemn every incident in which the holy book of any religion is desecrated,” said Zahid Farooq.
“We are only asking for justice, for peace. We also have the right to live, because we are also a part of Pakistan. Then, why is this happening to us?” said Christian housewife Shazia Adnan.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar called for stern action against those responsible for Wednesday's violence. "I am gutted

Government sources old media the mob was made up of thousands of people led by local clerics, mainly from an Islamist political party called Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP). However , the TLP denied inciting the violence and said it had worked with police to try to calm things down.

Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan and though no one has ever been executed for it, numerous accused people have been lynched by outraged crowds.