Minority rights activists have expressed grave concern and shock over an attack on churches following an accusation of blasphemy in Jaranwala town in Faisalabad district.
On Wednesday, a violent mob of hundreds ransacked and torched various churches and attacked the residences of members of the Christian community after some locals alleged that several desecrated pages of the Holy Quran had been found near a house at Cinema Chowk in Jaranwala, where two Christian brothers resided.
Minority Rights activist Joseph Jansen fiercely denounced the incident and said that the Christian community has been facing persecution for a long time, and such brutal and barbaric incidents occur at intervals.
He stressed that the authorities concerned should take this case of an attack on minorities as a test case and set an example so that no one dares to harm the peaceful minority in the future.
Jansen said that merely on the accusation of blasphemy, several churches and residences of members of the Christian community were set ablaze in broad daylight, describing it as a brutal violation of basic rights.
While demanding strict action against the attackers, he urged the authorities concerned to ensure the safety and security of marginalized segments of society.
He prayed for the local Christians who went through trauma during the attack by the violent mob.
Minority rights activist Ashknaz Khokhar condemned the attack on churches and residences of Christians and said that such horrible incidents are spreading fear among minorities and that there is a need to take appropriate measures to curb such brutality.