Members of the Christian community in Pakistan held services on Sunday at churches that were vandalised by a mob over allegations of blasphemy in Punjab province’s Jaranwala. The services held at handful churches were led by the bishop of the diocese, Christian community leader Akmal Bhatti told Reuters. The services drew hundreds of Christians whose homes were partly or completely destroyed when the mob burned and looted them on Wednesday. Later, food rations were distributed to those affected by the pastors.
21 churches were set ablaze on Wednesday by a vigilante mob after two Christian brothers were accused of desecrating the Quran.
On Sunday, the provincial government said that compensation of two million rupee has been approved for each of the families affected.
As per the Reuters report, a Christian graveyard was also desecrated, said the residents and the community leaders, adding that the mob armed with iron rods, sticks, bricks, knife and daggers went on the rampage without any intervention by police and administration authorities who were present there for over 10 hours.
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The police, however, denied the claims saying it prevented the situation from turning worse.
On Thursday, the government ordered a high-level probe into the riots and promised to “restore” all the damaged churches and homes of people belonging to the minority Christian community, reported PTI. A spokesperson for Punjab Police said 135 miscreants have been arrested with some of them belonging to radical group Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan.
The two Christian men accused of blasphemy have also been arrested and investigation is underway.
Blasphemy carries death penalty in Pakistan, and although no executions have occurred, numerous individuals accused of blasphemy have been lynched by outraged crowds. This includes the assassination of a former provincial governor and a minister for minorities based on blasphemy accusations.