Catholic Church in Pakistan responds to mob attack on Christians

Catholic Church officials in Pakistan have strongly condemned a recent attack on Christians in Punjab province, and expressed disappointment at the level of intolerance in Pakistani society.

On May 25, a violent mob attacked Christian family homes in the Mujahid colony, in the city of Sargodha, about 240 kilometers south of Islamabad, capital of Pakistan. The crowd set fire to and vandalized the homes of Christians, as well as the shoe factory of Nazir Masih, a Catholic accused of blasphemy for allegedly desecrating pages of the Koran.

Masih, 76, spent a couple of years in Saudi Arabia. After his return, he established a shoe factory and had a successful business.

Lawyer Tahir Naveed Chaudhry, a Catholic political leader in Sargodha, told CNA—EWTN News’ English agency—that around 6:00 a.m. (local time) on May 25, Ayub Gondal, one of the Muslim neighbors of Masih accused him of committing blasphemy by throwing pages of the Koran on the road in front of the factory.

As rumors spread, about 2,000 people from the same locality and some from nearby villages gathered in front of Masih’s house, according to Ifran Gill, Masih’s nephew. People from up to 32 kilometers away also arrived.

The crowd destroyed electric meters and outdoor air conditioning units, and set fire to houses and the store. Finally, they took them out, threw stones at them and beat them with sticks. They tried to lynch Masih, who was seriously injured.

In a statement, Bishop Samson Shukardin, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan and president of the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), shared his concern for the safety of Christians in the country.

After the incident, a Christian delegation, led by Islamabad-Rawalpindi Archbishop Joseph Arshad and Catholic Senator Tahir Khalil Sindhu, met Sargodha District Police Officer Assad Malhi.

Sindhu told CNA that the delegation demanded that the police provide security to local Christians and especially the victim’s family, and that the attackers be arrested and brought to justice.

According to local Christians, members of an extremist religious organization, Lashkar-e-Labak Pakistan (LLP), especially one of its local leaders, Muhammad Akram, played a key role in the attack.

The same organization was involved in the attack on Christian houses in and around the town of Jaranwala in August last year, in which attackers burned down 24 churches and destroyed and looted 89 Christian houses. Christians are still recovering from that incident.

Some local Muslims tried to intervene, but the crowd ignored them, accusing them of supporting a blasphemer.

The police arrived at the scene within half an hour and tried to rescue the Christian families. The crowd resisted and threw stones at the police. Eleven police officers and officers were injured and some were hospitalized.

Despite strong resistance from the crowd, police rescued 10 Christians and took them to safety, Gill said.

Thanks to the intervention of Rizwan Gill MPA, a local Muslim member of the provincial assembly, the police took Masih in an ambulance to Sargodha Military Hospital. Due to security concerns, only his daughter can stay with him.

To disperse the crowd, the police were forced to use tear gas.

Christians praised the police for saving Christian families. Samuel Pyara, a Catholic human rights activist, praised the bravery of the police officers and their timely intervention to bring the situation under control.

Due to police action, no other Christian homes or churches were attacked, Gill continued.

Senator Sindh, a member of the upper house of parliament, told CNA that Masih underwent surgery on Monday, but his condition remains critical. He has been sent to Islamabad for further treatment.

To control the lawless situation, the district administration imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), banning all types of protests, demonstrations and gatherings in the district till May 31.

Police presence has also increased around Christian towns and churches.

On Sunday, special days of prayer were held in churches across the country. Church leaders in Pakistan prayed for peace and tolerance in the country.

District Police Officer Malhi told the media that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had given instructions to take all possible measures to save human lives.

He also revealed that cases were filed against more than 400 unidentified suspects, including Ayub Gondal, on behalf of the state, under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997 and sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). To date, police have arrested more than 100 suspects for mob violence and attempts to lynch Masih.

Emmanuel Athar Juliun, a Catholic and member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, has moved a motion in the legislative secretariat to debate the incident in the assembly.

According to Muhammad Jahangir, a Lashkar-e-Labak Pakistan (LLP) activist, the police have also filed a case against Masih under the blasphemy law.

Christian, Muslim and Hindu rights groups have organized protest rallies in many major cities, including Faisalabad and Karachi. Safina Javed, a Catholic human rights activist from Karachi, told CNA that people from all walks of life attended the protest rally organized by the Minority Rights March and demanded the repeal of blasphemy laws.

Since controversial blasphemy laws were introduced in Pakistan, blasphemy charges have been widely used against Christians to settle personal disputes.

Mob attacks on Christians in Pakistan have been continuous.

In addition to terrorist attacks on churches, Christian neighborhoods have been attacked due to alleged accusations of blasphemy. Last year, in Jaranwala, 89 Christian houses and 24 churches burned down.

Christians make up 1.5% of the country’s total population.

Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally published inCNA.