Following the aftermath of a series of violent incidents, Pakistani authorities have initiated an investigation and apprehended a total of 146 individuals in Punjab province. The previous day witnessed an alarming event as a Muslim mob set fire to five churches and launched attacks on numerous residences belonging to the local Christian community, citing accusations of blasphemy. The Punjab province’s highest-ranking police official, Inspector General Usman Anwar, affirmed the ongoing efforts to apprehend others involved in the turmoil. The rampage occurred in Jaranwala city within the Faisalabad district, located approximately 115 kilometers (71 miles) southwest of Lahore, the provincial capital.
Reports from the local area indicated the discovery of torn Quran pages containing alleged blasphemous content near the Christian colony of Isa Nagri in Jaranwala. This incident incited a disturbing surge of violence against the minority Christian community, constituting one of the most severe instances of such violence in recent years.
Among the targeted locations was the Salvation Army Church in Jaranwala, one of the five churches subjected to vandalism. Social media videos captured a group of men atop the church’s roof, attacking its façade and attempting to dislodge the cross positioned on its pinnacle. Certain videos also depicted police officials in the vicinity, seemingly amidst the crowd of onlookers as the assailants continued their destructive acts on the churches.
The violence extended to encompass Christian community properties, businesses, and cemeteries, exacerbating the distress within the city, which holds a population of 230,000 residents.
In response to the escalating situation, a considerable number of additional police forces and paramilitary troops have been deployed to maintain control over the upheaval. Pakistan finds itself grappling with an unparalleled convergence of political and economic challenges.
Amir Mir, Punjab’s Information Minister, asserted that an initial inquiry into the alleged Quran desecration indicated a “well thought-out conspiracy to inflame public sentiments.” However, Mir refrained from providing further details regarding his assertion.
