Several churches, houses vandalised over blasphemy allegations: Govt takes strict action over Jaranwala mayhem

An enraged mob vandalised multiple churches in the Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad on Wednesday over blasphemy allegations, following which the paramilitary Rangers were called to the area and Section 144 was imposed, and hundreds of suspects were arrested. The action followed instructions from caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar who directed law enforcement agencies to apprehend culprits behind the vandalisation of churches in Jaranwala. “I am gutted by the visuals coming out of Jaranwala, Faisalabad. Stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities,” said Kakar in a post on X, the microblogging website formerly known as Twitter. The interim premier also said that all law enforcement agencies have asked to “apprehend culprits and bring them to justice”. “Rest assured that the government of Pakistan stands with our citizenry on equal basis,” he added. Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif also slammed the incident, saying: “What is happening in Jaranwala is sad and disturbing.” “There is no place for violence in any religion. All religious places, Books and personages are sacred and deserve our highest level of respect. I urge the government to take action against the culprits,” the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president added. The former premier also appealed to the “religious scholars from all schools of thought to come forward and condemn the reprehensible actions”. “Such madness can’t be allowed. Pakistan belongs to all religious minorities,” Shehbaz on X said. Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also condemned the incident. “Horrified to hear about the attack on Churches in Jaranwala, Faisalabad, violating the sanctity of places of worship is absolutely unacceptable. The administration must ensure the safety of the Christian community and their Churches,” Bilawal on X said. Earlier in the day, a crowd vandalised several churches and setting scores of houses on fire after accusing the Christian community of its members over alleged blasphemy. The incident took place in Jaranwala town of the industrial district of Faisalabad, police spokesman Naveed Ahmad said. A mob had attacked the community after two Christians were accused of blasphemy, he said. Dozens of people were blocking a nearby highway. A Christian leader, Akmal Bhatti, said the crowd had torched at least five churches and looted valuables from houses that had been abandoned by their owners after clerics made announcements in mosques inciting the mob. Several social media posts showed some churches on fire as well as houses and belongings. More than 100 people have been arrested for their involvement in riots, the Punjab interim government’s spokesperson confirmed. In a statement, the Punjab government spokesperson said that the provincial government has also ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. Earlier, interim Punjab Information Minister Amir Mir had said that “dozens of people who disturbed peace” in the area were detained. In a statement, the minister said that the violence in Jaranwala was done under a “well-thought-out conspiracy”. “There was a plan to disturb the peace by inciting public sentiments. After the desecration of the Holy Quran, the angry protesters reacted strongly,” Mir said, adding that the situation in Faisalabad is fully under control now. The provincial info minister also said that the investigation into the tragic incident of the desecration of the holy book is underway at a fast pace, adding that anyone who tries to take the law into his hands would be arrested immediately. The security of churches, he said, has been tightened and a large number of law enforcers have been deployed. More than 6,000 policemen and Rangers personnel are present in the affected areas, he added. The minister also shared that in Wednesday’s incidents, no one was injured nor was there any loss of life. Mir went on to say that the Punjab chief secretary and Inspector General of Punjab Police visited Jaranwala on the instructions of caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi.