The recent mob attacks on churches and homes of Christians in eastern Pakistan were triggered by a complex web of personal disputes and allegations. According to local authorities, the violence erupted after three Christians allegedly threw pages of the Quran outside the house of Raja Amir, falsely implicating him and his brother in a blasphemy case. This action was reportedly orchestrated by Pervez Kodu, who believed that Amir had an affair with his wife and knew that Muslims would target Amir if the pages were thrown outside his house.
The three detained suspects have confessed to their involvement in this scheme, and they now face charges related to causing violence and falsely implicating Amir and his brother in a blasphemy case, PTI reported.
The outbreak of violence occurred in Faisalabad's Jaranwala in the Punjab province when some Muslims claimed to have witnessed Raja Amir and his friend allegedly tearing out pages from a Quran, throwing them on the ground, and writing insulting remarks on other pages. This alleged act incited anger among local Muslims, leading to the mob attacks on churches and Christian homes. The attacks resulted in the destruction of property, with some members of the Christian community forced to flee their homes to escape the violence.
Local sources reported that the situation escalated further when members of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) made public announcements from mosques, inciting people to join the site of the alleged incident. Social media posts depicted an angry mob descending upon churches, throwing bricks, and setting them on fire. Disturbingly, in one video, crowds cheered while demanding punishment for the accused blasphemers and tearing down a cross from the top of a church.
Yasir Bhatti, a Christian resident who witnessed the attacks, described how the mob ruthlessly damaged property, including breaking windows, doors, and burning household items. They even desecrated Bibles during their rampage.
Father Gulshan Barkat, a church history teacher in Karachi, characterized the blasphemy allegations as false and pointed out that local mosques had played a role in inciting violence through loudspeakers calling on Muslims to attack the Christian community.
Bishop Azad Marshall, a senior Christian leader, took to social media to appeal for help, expressing deep distress over the situation and calling for justice and intervention to ensure the safety of all citizens.
In response to the violence, the local administration imposed Section 144, prohibiting all forms of assembly for at least seven days. Thousands of police personnel were dispatched to secure the area, and numerous individuals were detained. Reports also indicated that the assistance of Muslim clerics and elders was sought to quell the violence.
