Today: 7 October 2025
18 August 2023
2 mins read

Pakistan: Vandalism of churches sparks ‘High-Level’ probe

Christian leaders have alleged that the police remained silent spectators…reports Asian Lite News

After a mob allegedly set fire to multiple churches and vandalised Christians’ homes, the interim Punjab government has ordered a “high-level” inquiry, Geo News reported on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the mob made its way through a predominantly Christian area on the outskirts of the industrial city of Faisalabad after allegations that the Holy Quran had been desecrated.

“This was a well thought out plan to disrupt peace and a high-level investigation is underway regarding the desecration of the Holy Quran and incidents that take place afterwards,” a spokesperson for the provincial government said in a statement, according to Geo News.

The spokesperson said police “foiled” the bid to attack the homes of the minorities, adding that the “peace committee” was mobilised to ensure similar attempts are thwarted.

Reacting to the attack, Human Rights Commission in Pakistan posted on X, formerly Twitter, “The mob-led assault on Christian families and their homes and sites of worship in #Jaranwala, Faisalabad, following allegations of blasphemy, must be condemned in no uncertain terms. The frequency and scale of such attacks—which are systematic, violent and often uncontainable.”

“… appear to have increased in recent years. Not only has the state failed to protect its religious minorities, but it has also allowed the far right to permeate and fester within society and politics. Both the perpetrators and instigators of this violence…,” the Commission added.

It further stated that the perpetrators and instigators of this violence must be identified and punished to the full extent of the law. The government should not waste any time in raising and equipping special police forces to protect religious minorities’ sites of worship as directed by the 2014 Supreme Court judgment.

Earlier, over 100 people were arrested in connection with the church vandalism case, Geo News reported on Wednesday citing the Punjab interim government’s spokesperson.

Meanwhile, Christian leaders have alleged that the police remained silent spectators, Dawn reported.

President Bishop of the Church of Pakistan, Azad Marshall, said Christians were being tortured and harassed.

Bishop Azad Marshall posted on X, “Words fail me as I write this. We, Bishops, Priests and lay people are deeply pained and distressed at the Jaranwala incident in the Faisalabad District in Pakistan. A church building is being burnt as I type this message. Bibles have been desecrated and Christians have been tortured and harassed having been falsely accused of violating the Holy Quran”.

“We cry out for justice and action from law enforcement and those who dispense justice and the safety of all citizens to intervene immediately and assure us that our lives are valuable in our own homeland that has just celebrated independence and freedom,” he added.

Notably, minorities in Pakistan have undergone a series of persecution and targeted attacks over the past years. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Pakistan’s caretaker PM assures US of free, fair polls

Previous Story

Paper packaging thrives amid MEA e-commerce boom

Next Story

Bushra Bibi fears ‘poison’ plot against Imran Khan in Attock jail

Latest from -Top News

OCTOBER 7: Stop the Violence Now, Says Guterres

Guterres recalled that “the attackers brutally killed more than 1,250 Israelis and foreign nationals….reports Asian Lite News UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an immediate halt to the violence in Gaza, Israel, and

Piyush Goyal Heads to Doha for Trade Talks

During the visit, both sides are expected to discuss the proposed India–Qatar Free Trade Agreement (FTA)….reports Asian Lite News Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will travel to Doha, Qatar, on

Hamas Heads to Egypt for Gaza Talks

The negotiation will focus on the details of enacting the first phase of the plan…reports Asian Lite News A delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas arrived in Egypt on Sunday ahead of

Multi-alignment, upgraded

With US ties strained and China tense, New Delhi taps Europe’s harder edge for co-development, clean tech and strategic autonomy, writes Manoj Menon India is recalibrating its great-power hedging as frictions with
Go toTop

Don't Miss

UK panel slams Pak crackdown on minorities

Based on the written submissions and the oral evidence, it

Inflation: Imran faces opposition at home

“It is better for Prime Minister Imran Khan to resign,”