ISLAMABAD: Punjab’s caretaker Chief Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, pledged to restore all the churches and homes of Christians that had been ransacked and set ablaze during the Jaranwala violence within three to four days.
A day earlier, a violent mob of hundreds had attacked and set fire to five churches and targeted the residences of Christian community members. They also vandalized a Christian cemetery and the local assistant commissioner’s office. In response, the Punjab government called in Rangers and deployed 3,000 police personnel from various units, including the Elite Force.
According to police and local sources, the violence erupted after some locals claimed to have found desecrated pages of the Holy Quran near a house in Cinema Chowk, Jaranwala, where two Christian brothers lived.
Given the circumstances, the district administration imposed Section 144 for seven days, restricting all kinds of gatherings except those organized by the government.
Additionally, following directives from Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq, the Punjab government established a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the incident.
Punjab police reported making over 100 arrests, while Jaranwala police registered cases against more than 600 persons in connection with two terrorism-related cases.
During a meeting attended by religious leaders from the Christian community, Naqvi strongly condemned the violence, labeling such incidents as anti-Islamic and contrary to the teachings of the Holy Prophet. He characterized the mob-led attack as a “premeditated conspiracy” aimed at unsettling the country’s peace.
Naqvi emphasized the need for collaboration with minorities to prevent similar incidents in the future and urged religious leaders to promote the teachings of the Holy Quran among the people.
Assuring swift action, Naqvi assured that the Punjab government would restore the damaged churches and homes to their original condition within the next three to four days. He emphasized unity among all Pakistanis and vowed to thwart any future conspiracies, asserting that such actions had no place in the country.
He also commended the provincial chief secretary and police chief for effectively managing the situation in Jaranwala, preventing loss of life.
