Paramilitary forces deployed after churches attacked in Pakistan’s Punjab province

LAHORE, Pakistan

Authorities in Pakistan called in paramilitary forces to restore law and order after an angry mob attacked multiple churches and clashed with police in Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad city in the northeast of Punjab province on Wednesday.

Bishop Majeed Able told Anadolu that multiple churches have been set on fire today in the country’s central-eastern region.

“Churches, including the Salvation Army Church, United Presbyterian Church, Allied Foundation Church, and Shehroonwala Church, have been vandalized and some of them set on fire in the area,” he said.

The Punjab government called in paramilitary forces on Wednesday afternoon when clashes erupted between the protesters and security officials.

Several people got injured in the clashes after which negotiations started between authorities and the protesters that led to the de-escalation of the situation.

According to a First Information Report of the incident (FIR), two citizens from the Christian community allegedly uttered blasphemous remarks against the last Prophet of Islam and the Holy Quran. Police lodged the report (FIR) under blasphemy laws.

The local leaders of the far-right religious party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, addressing a gathering, demanded that the accused should be hanged publicly.

Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar tweeted that stern action would be taken against those who violate the law and target minorities. “All law enforcement has been asked to apprehend culprits and bring them to justice,” he said.