An enraged mob vandalised multiple churches in Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad on Wednesday over blasphemy allegations . A Christian leader Akmal Bhatti said the crowd had torched at least five churches and looted valuables from houses abandoned by their owners after clerics made announcements in mosques inciting the mob .
Images on social media showed smoke rising from the church buildings and people setting fire to furniture that had been dragged from them . The police registered a first information report against the accused under sections B defiling etc. of the Holy Quran and C use of derogatory remarks .
Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said stern action would be taken against those who violate the law and target minorities . Bishop of the Church of Pakistan Azad Marshall said that Bibles had been desecrated and Christians were tortured and harassed having been falsely accused of violating the holy Quran .
Former interior minister Rana Sanaullah also stressed that the culprits should be brought to justice at the earliest . Former PMLN President and ex-minister Shehbaz Sharif in a statement strongly condemned the incident . PPP Chairman Bilawal BhuttoZardari said violating the sanctity of worship places was absolutely unacceptable.
The administration must ensure the safety of the Christian community and their churches he highlighted. The attacks were absolutely unacceptable . The incident was absolutely unacceptable. We as a Pakistani state has failed to allow the Pakistani government to enforce its full might to protect its fullmight to protect churches and the government.
The attack was unacceptable. We have a responsibility to protect the churches. The government has failed. The state has also called for the government to protect our Christian communities. We could have a full might .
