FAISALABAD: The Jaranwala police in Faisalabad District have registered two cases of terrorism against over 600 individuals for attacking and setting fire to the homes of Christians and church buildings. On Wednesday, a violent mob consisting of hundreds of people vandalized the residences of Christian community members and set fire to five churches after blasphemy allegations.
The violence resulted in the damage of a Christian cemetery and the office of the local assistant commissioner. To control the situation, the Punjab government deployed Rangers and around 3,000 police officers from various units. In response to the incident, the district administration implemented Section 144. It restricts gatherings, for a period of seven days, except for government-organized events.
The Punjab government established a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the incident. The Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq directed an immediate investigation of the incident. The Punjab police have arrested over 100 individuals, and Rangers are also assisting in the operation.
Two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed by a sub-inspector of the Jaranwala City police station, detailing the events. One FIR described how a mob of 500-600 people, led by a group of individuals, attacked the Christian community, looted homes, and set fire to both homes and a church building. Eight individuals were identified as leaders of the mob, with affiliations to Jamaat Ahl-e-Sunnat and Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).
The FIR invoked sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, pertaining to acts of terrorism. It also referred to various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), including those related to rioting, assault, damage, and intentional insults to religious sentiments. The FIR also mentioned violations of the Punjab Sound Systems (Regulation) Act 2015.
The second FIR was also registered under similar sections of the PPC and the Anti-Terrorism Act. It cited how the mob was incited by a mosque’s loudspeaker announcement about an alleged incident of blasphemy, which led to violent attacks on the Christian community’s homes and churches.
Consequently, the Faisalabad deputy commissioner issued an order declaring a local holiday due to the law and order situation in the area. This order affected both government departments and private institutions in the Jaranwala tehsil.
