ISLAMABAD: Police have arrested an additional 30 suspects, bringing the total number of individuals held in violence in Jaranwala town of Faisalabad district, Punjab, to 158.
These arrests were made due to the alleged involvement of these suspects in the ransacking of churches and homes belonging to the Christian community.
On August 16, a violent mob consisting of hundreds of individuals vandalized and set fire to worship places belonging to the Christian community in Jaranwala. They had also launched attacks on their residential houses.
According to an initial assessment of property damage, the rampage resulted in the torching of 19 churches and 86 houses.
On Friday, IG Punjab Usman Anwar personally visited the affected areas and emphasized that the Punjab police were actively engaged in restoring the houses and churches that had been damaged. He provided reassurance to the Christian community, promising them comprehensive security measures. Additionally, he pledged to offer free education and amenities for the children belonging to the affected Christian community through the Police Welfare Schools.
However, A petition was filed by the Voice of Christians International (VCI) in the Supreme Court, urging the court to take note of the tragic incident that occurred in Jaranwala.
By Friday, life in Jaranawala had returned to its usual state, with most of the victims have already returned to their homes. However, the police and paramilitary Rangers continued to maintain a presence on the streets, conducting patrols.
