Haroon, a resident of Chak 49 Shumaali village, shared a verse from the Holy Bible on social media. A Muslim neighbor took a screenshot of his Facebook post and shared it in several social media groups, accusing Haroon of disrespecting the tradition of offering animal sacrifices.
Within a few hours, the villagers learned that mobs from adjacent villages were heading toward their village. They instantly contacted the Sargodha district police officer (DPO), who responded with responsibility and professionalism and provided a heavy contingent of police to avoid any untoward incident.
It is pertinent to mention here that there are almost 250–300 Christian families living in Chak 49 Shumaali village, where the situation is tense. Many Christian families have reportedly left the village, fearing attack.
Haroon has secured pre-arrest bail and is hiding in a bid to save himself and his family from lynching.
Minority rights activists have raised concern over this situation and urged the authorities concerned to ensure tolerance and acceptance in society so people of different faiths may live peacefully in a secure environment.
Meanwhile, minority rights activist Joseph Jansen said that the filing of a blasphemy case based solely on posting a verse from the Holy Bible makes no sense. He said that the case was lodged due to the pressure exerted by the TLP. He demanded justice for the Haroon who fell prey to the law that has ruined the lives of many and is mostly used to settle personal scores.