Pakistan: 25 Arrested, Over 450 Booked After Mob Attack On Christians In Punjab Province
About 450 people and 25 were arrested by police in Paksitan's Punjab province on charges of attacking members of the Christian community on the issue of the alleged desecration of a religious book.
The police in Pakistan's Punjab province on Sunday arrested 25 persons and booked over 450 others under terrorism and other charges after the accused persons attacked the Christian community. The incident occurred in the Mujahid Colony of Sargodha district, about 200 kilometres from Lahore, and was reportedly led by activists from the radical Islamist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), news agency PTI reported.
The mob, incited by allegations of desecration of a religious book, targeted members of the minority Christian community, as per the report. They injured two Christians and 10 policemen and damaged homes and properties.
According to the report, FIR mentioned over 450 persons, with 50 specifically named, surrounded the residence and shoe factory of Nazir Masih, an elderly Christian, accusing him of desecrating the religious book.
The attackers set fire to the shoe factory, several shops, and a couple of houses. "The mob brutally torched Masih, but the timely arrival of a heavy contingent of police saved his life and those of 10 other Christian community members," the FIR stated, according to PTI.
Despite the Masih family's denial of the desecration allegations, the mob sought to lynch him. The report said that the FIR further detailed that the mob threw stones at police officers when they tried to disperse the crowd using batons. At least 10 policemen, including officers, were injured in the clash.
A police statement, as per PTI, clarified that there were no fatalities in the mob attack. "More than 10 police officers and personnel have been injured due to stone pelting by the angry people. The police risked their lives to rescue the families and pulled them out of the crowd. Thanks to the timely action of the police, Sargodha is spared a great tragedy," the statement read. It also assured that the situation in the city was completely peaceful and under control.
Nazir Masih, who was injured in the attack, was taken to the Combined Military Hospital in Sargodha for treatment. As per the PTI report, the police stated that a case would be initiated against him if he was found guilty of desecrating the religious book.
The Punjab police deployed over 2,000 officers in Sargodha's Mujahid Colony to maintain law and order. As per reports, video clips of the mob attacks on Christian properties circulated on social media.
Irfan Gil Masih, a relative of Nazir Masih, told PTI that Nazir had recently returned from Dubai after four years. He claimed that the local persons had falsely accused his uncle of desecration. He described how Christian families locked themselves inside their houses to escape the mob. "The environment has been tense, and the Christians are terrified," he said.
The incident follows a similar attack last year, where at least 24 churches and over 80 houses belonging to Christians in Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad district were burned down by a mob enraged over reports of desecration of the Quran by two Christians.
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