The utmost violence, it seems, against the Christians in Pakistan has taken a permanent form. According to the Pakistani daily newspaper Dawn, on August 16, following an alleged incident of blasphemy in the town of Jaranwala, a violent mob of hundreds ransacked and torched five churches, and attacked the homes of Christians and the office of the local assistant commissioner. According to the newspaper:
“As per police and local sources, the violence erupted after some locals alleged that several desecrated pages of the Holy Quran had been found near a house at Cinema Chowk in Jaranwala, where two Christian brothers resided.
“Rumors of the alleged act spread like wildfire across Jaranwala after those who had leveled the allegations approached different mosques, from where announcements were made to incite people to show their “reaction” to the incident….
“[T]he situation became more volatile when members of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) entered the fray, making public announcements from mosques and other places, riling up people to reach the site of the alleged incident. Soon, a mob gathered outside the house of the two men – who had evacuated by then – and set it on fire, sparking a spate of violent incidents.”
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The Pakistan Christian Post wrote:
“The extremist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik has posted a video depicting the recent destruction of Christian homes following an allegation of blasphemy, accompanied by threats to carry out acts of violence against those accused of blasphemy…
“What began as accusations against two Christian brothers has escalated into a devastating wave of violence, resulting in the destruction of over 20 churches and 500 homes. The situation remains tense as the community grapples with the aftermath of this unfortunate incident.”
A Christian cemetery was also desecrated, residents and community leaders said, and the mob dragged belongings from Christians’ houses, and set them on fire in the street. The attack lasted more than ten hours, without any police intervention.
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