Christians in Pakistan have taken to the streets across the Muslim-majority nation following another mob attack over false blasphemy accusations in Punjab province.
From Peshawar in the north to Karachi in the south, Christians gathered in large numbers this weekend to protest the attack on a Christian family’s houses and shoe factory in Sargodha district.
The factory owner, Mr. Nazil Gill Masih, and his son were accused of burning pages of the Quran in their garbage. Over 400 men armed with batons, bricks, and stones attacked their shops and homes. Although twelve family members escaped, Mr. Masih was badly beaten and severely injured before police arrived and rescued him. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
His son was also beaten, and the violence continued after the initial attack, posing a serious threat to the local Christian community’s safety.
The Minorities Alliance Pakistan (MAP) and Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) condemned the incident, demanding punishment for the attackers and expressing solidarity with the affected family and community. The police have registered cases against 450 unknown persons under an anti-terrorism law, and 25 people have been arrested.
In Peshawar, Christians declared May 25 as a “black day.” In Faisalabad, more than 500 protesters blocked traffic for two hours, and 20 women burned their headscarves in protest. In Karachi, Christians protested at the Press Club, demanding the dismissal of senior police officials, as video footage showed police inaction during the mob attack. The police have denied these claims.
The Sargodha district administration has banned rallies and imposed a colonial-era law that bans public gatherings until May 31. Additional police have been deployed to maintain order. Father David John, parish priest of Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Mujahid colony, said the situation is now under control, but only a few families have returned despite police assurances of protection.
Blasphemy has been a capital crime in Pakistan since 1981. Although no one has been executed by the government for blasphemy, mobs often take the law into their own hands, attacking and lynching suspects. The law is frequently misused for false accusations against Christians and other religious minorities to settle personal disputes.
The attack in Sargodha district comes just over nine months after similar riots in Jaranwala, triggered by another false blasphemy accusation.
Source: Vatican News
