Hundreds of people, armed with sticks and batons, stormed a local Christian colony in the Jaranwala area of Faisalabad on Wednesday morning and ransacked at least two churches and adjoining buildings over what they claimed was blasphemy allegedly committed by a local resident.
The attack caused fear and panic to spread through the area, with the local market shut down as armed mobs roamed the streets.
Videos and messages from locals on social media suggested that locals were incited using loudspeakers of mosques over reports of the alleged desecration of religious scriptures by two local Christian residents, alias Rocky and Raja.
While a heavy contingent of police reached the area and assured the growing mob that the suspects would be apprehended and would face action as per the law, the charged crowds proceeded to attack the colony.
Christian residents of the area appeared to have fled for fear of attack.
The mob also ransacked the Salvation Army Church in the colony, one of the oldest churches in the area and reportedly set it on fire, apart from ransacking another local church and adjoining buildings.
Furniture from inside the buildings was piled into the street and set ablaze.
However, there were no reports of any casualties.
Local mobs raised slogans in favour of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik, Khatam-e-Nabuwat apart from demanding the execution of the culprit. The mobs later gathered at Mehtab Masjid near Cinema Chowk.
Locals claimed that if police had acted in time, the situation would not have gotten out of hand.
Charged mobs have attacked at least two churches in Jaranwala, Faisalabad over alleged blasphemy with local police unable to apprehend suspects nor prevent mobs from attacking residents & holy places of Christians in the area.
UPDATE: A First Information Report under blasphemy laws has been filed with sections 295-B/C. The situation in Jaranwala is trying to be brought under control, a Senior Official from the locality told “some official buildings, churches, residences of Christians and office of the Asssitant Commissioner have been vandalized. Authorities have transferred Assistant Commisioner Shaukat Masih with immediate effect. Clerics have been brought for consultation to stop the violence : Police/ Officials
