Over fifty houses belonging to Christians and two churches have been burnt and ransacked by a mob of villagers near Toba Tek Singh and at least six people have been killed. The mob meted out the collective punishment on the ‘accusation’ that three Christians were allegedly seen desecrating pages of the Holy Quran.
The perpetrators committed this vile act in broad daylight as hapless homeowners ran for their lives. Ironically, instead of arresting the culprits, the police – under pressure from the mob – registered a blasphemy case against the three Christians!
However, the irony doesn’t end here. While Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif condemned this incident, he had himself presided over an important meeting of the ulema just four weeks before with a very different message. The meeting put out a joint proclamation stating that “.. whosoever is even slightly guilty of blasphemy against the Prophet – directly or indirectly – is an infidel, an apostate, and liable to be put to deathâ€. So why condemn now Mr. Chief Minister?
Further irony is that the above statement was part of a joint declaration prepared to condemn religious militant extremism! The Punjab government was so proud of bringing these progressive minded ulema together, that it published the declaration in newspapers. (Click here or on image to see larger version).
But the greatest irony of all is that those who were so perturbed by the alleged desecration of pages of Quran, shredded its entire message to pieces by destroying a place of worship.
This earlier report from Reuters gives more details of the incident:
Six Christians, including four women, were burned alive in clashes with majority Muslims in a town in central Pakistan on Saturday, officials said. Tension has been running high between the two communities in Gojra town in central Punjab province over allegations that Christians had desecrated a Koran.
Clashes erupted early on Saturday, with an exchange of fire from the members of the two communities. Television footage showed burning houses and streets strewn with blackened furniture and people firing at each other from their rooftops.
Shahbaz Bhatti, minister for minorities, said a mob “misled by religious extremists,” attacked a Christian neighborhood and torched dozens of houses. “We have received six bodies of people who died of burn injuries. They included four women, one man and one child,” Abdul Hamid, a Health Ministry official in the town told Reuters by telephone.
Rana Sanaullah, provincial minister for law, who is also responsible for security matters of Punjab, condemned the attack and said an inquiry had been ordered. However, he said, a preliminary investigation showed there was no desecration of the Koran. “It was just a rumor which was exploited by anti-state elements to create chaos,” he said. “I request both Muslim and Christian communities to show restraint,” Sanaullah said, adding the government would take strict action against rioters and also police who failed to stop the violence.
Pakistan is a predominantly Muslim nation and religious minorities, including Christians, account for roughly 4 percent of the 170 million population. Muslims and minorities largely live in harmony but there have been periodic attacks on Christian targets in Pakistan since it became a U.S. ally following the September 11 attacks on the United States.
As tensions have escalated, The News reports concern and statements from the Federal government, including the Interior Minister, Prime Minister and the President:
Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik Saturday took notice of violent incidents in Gojra and directed Punjab Inspector General to bring the situation under control. He also directed the Punjab government to improve the law and order situation in the province; he also directed Punjab IG to submit report on the Gojra violence. Urging the people to demonstrate patience, he maintained no one would be allowed to take law in his hand in the country. The interior minister expressed deep grief over the rampage and violence in Gojra, saying action will be taken against anyone involved in the gory incidents in Gojra.
In a separate news item in The News:
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Saturday, taking notice of the Gojra’s violent incidents, ordered to initiate inquiry into the Gojra, sources said Saturday. President Asif Ali Zardari ordered to send Punjab Rangers to Gojra so that the situation could be normalized. Rehman Malik said Punjab Rangers will help police in bringing back the situation to normalcy, adding the government will take stringent action against those who are involved in worsening the situation. Zardari asked the interior ministry to cooperate with the government of Punjab for maintaining the law and order in the province.
I am not missing the point. I am just trying to tell you that do not single out an incidence and misguide others that police only arrest those who offend Islam while the reality is quite different.
Someone here says that laws should be repealed which gives others right to hurt fellow Pakistanis. I think if this is the case then every law should be repealed? what about laws which give non-Mullahs right to kill anyone just because they are sons of some feudal lord or some minister? what about getting rid of laws which give non-Mullah feudals and our civilian politicians to abuse Pakistanis. In Karachi a year old girl was gang raped by police men but at that time all Western funded NGos were hibernating somewhere and they did not come on roads and protest for “Women rights”. Why? because they did not have enough “money” which can make them to come out on roads.
Those minority champs should realize that EVERY RELIGION must be respected; be it followed by minorities or majorities. Just like one does not have right to offfend Bible or any other religious book similarly no one has right to offend Quran either. One can’t say,”Oh they are minorities, let them offend Quran”. Those who have burnt these Christians and those who have really offended Muslims’ Holy book MUST BE punished.
Meeting out rough justice is condemnable. However, in this brouhaha the most important point is forgotten: how can anyone even think of desecrating Qura’n in an islamic country? It clearly shows that these christians were quite convinced that they could get away with this heinous crime.
Now, innocent christians should be compensated by the government and the culprits should be put to death after due process of law.
I think the radical elements are beginning to realize that they are sinking deeper in the eyes of the common man. This seems like another pathetic attempt to create chaos and pit neighbor against neighbor. Whether it’s Sunni versus Shia, Christian versus Muslim, it’s all the same; their only objective is to stay relevant.
Its time to get off the fence and move beyond mere apologies.
Pakistan has more mad mullahs then flies in fruit market. We will be appologizing for the next hundred years and still that won’t be enough, such are the acts of mullahs.
It begins with daily conversations with our friends and families. Please make them aware of why this act is so wrong and must be stopped in future.
Its time for every man and women to be counted.
Some more comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
– “thats what being lost ofcourse. We alwayz start fighting on things with each other in these matters and that way the criminals get away.”
– “I think, we should be tolerant and open minded enough to allow critical/skeptical remarks also, even if we are not of the opinion or feel it is not right. Don’t we have hypocrites and intolerant pple; isn’t this act a reflection of the very same? Life is sacred and justice is everyone’s right, Grow up Pakistanis! ”
– “They’re at it again, maybe someday things will change”
– “well we should be tolerant nd we r tolerant but derz no point in blaming the “state” or “the Pakistan” .. Yes every one condemn wht happend in Gojra,,,, but finger should be pointed towards those who’r to be blamed but not to “The Pakistan” … neways . PEACE !!!!!!!!!!”
– “Sorry but there can’t be any peace if articles 295 and 298 are inact in the penal code. Every sane Pakistani is aware that Pakistan should be re-created as per the guidlines that were given by Mr.Jinnah on 11th August 1948.”
– “aqleeatoo ko un ka haq milna chahye,if they r right.govt.should seriously think abt ths”