Jaranwala/Lahore: Following the recent riots in Jaranwala, the city police have booked 34 persons under Section 18 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). 600 unknown persons have been nominated. reported on Friday.
The publication further claimed that 29 named suspects had been arrested in connection with Wednesday’s riots.
A mob vandalized several churches and set fire to several houses in Jaranwala town of Faisalabad’s industrial district on Wednesday, after clerics made announcements in mosques to attack the Christian community on charges of blasphemy. prompted to do.
According to a government order seen by Reuters, paramilitary forces were called in to deal with the violence and bring the situation under control.
The police on Thursday also named Ahlus Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) Jaranwala president Mufti Muhammad Younis Rizvi and Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) leader Syed Asifullah Shah in the case. The people of the area expressed their indignation at his nomination in this case.
Rangers and police cordoned off the area around Cinema Chowk on Thursday to prevent the entry of protesters.
All entrances leading to the Christian area were also closed by the administration. A local holiday was declared in the entire tehsil.
Almost all shops and business centers in the city remained closed and business activities remained suspended. Rangers and law enforcement officials patrolled the streets.
The security of the burnt and other churches has been increased by the administration and armed police personnel have been deployed there.
‘conspiracy’
In a statement by the spokesperson of the Punjab government, it was said that the Jaranwala incident was the result of a well-thought-out conspiracy. It said that the alleged incident started after two Christian brothers, Raja Amir Masih and Rakhi Masih, desecrated the Holy Quran in the Christian town of the city.
At that time his sister protested this act and later the news of this incident spread in the city.
However, the police failed to act in time to prevent the mayhem caused by the mob. The police did not take security measures to protect the churches and a mob set fire to them without any resistance.
The police conducted several raids and arrested dozens of people involved in the incidents. SHO Rudala Road Police Station Ghulam Rasool and Constable Muhammad Waqas were injured in a clash with people during raids to arrest the accused.
Joint assembly
Also, Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi said that the two men, who are accused of desecrating the Holy Quran, have been arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD). The Chief Minister appreciated the tireless efforts of Punjab Chief Secretary and Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Naqvi also presided over a joint gathering of leaders of various religions, including the Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Hindu and Bahai communities. He expressed deep concern over the tragic incident.
Archbishop of Lahore (Roman Catholic) Bishop Nadeem Kamran, Bishop Sebastian Shah, Allama Hussain Akbar, Dr. Raghib Hussain Naimi, Amarnath Randhawa, Rohia Mofadi, Pastor Mahnwal Khokhar, Sardar Kalyan Singh Kalyan, Pandit Bhagat Lal, Maulana Zubair Hassan and others. attended Meeting. The session ended with a prayer by Bishop Nadeem Kamran.
‘Strong contrast to Islam’
Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Chairman Dr. Qibla Ayaz strongly condemned the events that took place in Jaranwala and highlighted the link between such actions and the fundamental principles of religion, national laws and social norms.
In a statement, he asserted that the events in Jaranwala were in stark contrast to the teachings of Islam, which enshrines respect for places of worship and religious symbols in all religions.
Ayaz called for announcements to be made through loudspeakers in mosques and strict punishment for those who incite violence against the Christian community.
“Our religion and our national laws are rooted in respect, tolerance and coexistence,” Dr. Ayaz said, adding, “Acts of violence, targeting individuals based on their beliefs, or religious activities are prohibited.” Trying to take matters into one’s own hands with reason. Blasphemy finds no justification in Islam.”
‘fast action’
Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan is committed to protecting and promoting the constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms of people belonging to religious minorities.
In a statement, he said that as a law and constitution-abiding country, Pakistan cannot accept the intolerance and violent incident in Faisalabad.
He said that these actions are illegal and unconstitutional.
“Our law enforcement officials acted swiftly yesterday. They have been directed by the Prime Minister to nab the culprits and bring them to justice,” he added.
Condemnation Day
Also, the Implementation of Minority Rights Forum claimed that 21 churches and hundreds of copies of the Bible were burnt by mobs in Jaranwala on Wednesday.
Majeed Abel, senior pastor of Nolakha Church in Lahore, also supported this claim.
Meanwhile, Muslim and Christian leaders of Pakistan termed the incident as unacceptable and sad and demanded arrest of the accused and speedy trial.
A delegation of Muslim scholars apologized to Christian leaders and the Christian community for the desecration of their holy places and holy books.
He also announced that Friday, August 18, will be celebrated as Condemnation Day.
Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, while talking to the media along with the Muslim and Christian leadership at the Cathedral Church Lahore, said that the government should repair all the holy places of the Christian community, which have been destroyed in this ugly incident.
He said that the people involved have harmed both Islam and Pakistan. He apologized to the Christian community on behalf of the entire Pakistan and Muslim community.
The Muslim scholars also said that the Jaranwala incident will be condemned in Friday sermons across the country. A high-level delegation of religious leaders will also visit Jaranwala on Saturday.
Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, Archbishop Sebastian Shah, Pastor Emmanuel Khokhar, Pastor Salim, Maulana Nauman Hasher, Maulana Muhammad Shafi Qasmi, Maulana Asadullah Farooq, Maulana Zubair Abid, Maulana Muhammad Ashfaq Patafi, Maulana Tahir Aqeel Awan, Maulana Muhammad Aslam Siddiqui and others also addressed. , Qari Abdul Hakeem Athar, Maulana Muhammad Aslam Qadri, Mufti Naseem Islam, Maulana Qari Mubasher Rahimi and others said that those who attacked the holy places of the Christian community defamed Islam and Pakistan.
Statement of the People’s Party
Meanwhile, the Pakistan People’s Party Human Rights Cell has strongly condemned the attack on the church.
“This heinous act of violence against a place of worship is a violation of the principles of religious freedom and tolerance that our nation upholds,” it said in a statement.
It said that the attack on the church in Jaranwala is not only a violation of the fundamental rights of the Christian community but also undermines the fabric of our diverse society.
The PPPHR cell demanded the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack and bring the culprits to justice at the earliest.
A thorough, impartial investigation
Apart from this, the former chairman of the Central Sawit Hilal Committee Mufti Muneebur Rehman condemned the Jaranwala incident in the strongest terms and demanded a complete and impartial investigation to ensure accountability and justice in this matter.
Speaking against a partisan or one-sided stance, he, in a statement, stressed the importance of upholding the law without prejudice.
Mufti, who is also the president of Al Madaris Association and Darul Uloom Naimiyyah, Karachi, said that “the responsibility of protecting the life, property and honor of every citizen, irrespective of his background, rests with the state.”
