Manhattan (Press Release): The Pakistani-American Christians and other religious minorities have expressed their profound grief and sorrow over the appalling attack that transpired on August 16 in Jaranwala, Faisalabad, targeting the Christian community, triggered by an unsubstantiated allegation of blasphemy against two local Christian youth, resulted in the ransacking and burning of homes, destruction and desecration of Churches, burning of the Holy Crosses & Holy Bibles. We are also shocked to learn that a Christian government servant, Assistant Commissioner of Jaranwala, Mr. Shaukat Masih had transferred was transferred under the government order the same day.
During a largely attended protest meeting in front of the United Nations on Thursday (August 24), the pastors of different churches from New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and other States offered special prayers for the Jaranwala victims while leaders of various communities representing different organizations strongly condemned this act by the Muslim mob on allegedly false case of Blasphemy.
They said in a disturbing trend of growing violence, the attack on Christian and other minority places of worship and the extrajudicial actions fueled by allegations of blasphemy have generated concerns about the rights to life, liberty, security, and religious freedom enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.
The representatives of the Pakistani Minorities are deeply concerned that such attacks instill terror and fear among the minority communities, further undermining the sense of security and harmony they deserve.
In light of this latest incident, the protesters demanded:
● An immediate lodging of an FIR in connection with the mob violence, followed by the establishment of an impartial task force or joint investigation team to probe the incident, including the role of law-enforcement agencies and their failure to intervene proactively.
● Pursuant to a comprehensive investigation, the apprehension and lawful punishment to all involved miscreants, including any government officials and/or law enforcement officers found complicit.
● A thorough examination of the involvement of local clerics in inciting mob violence, with appropriate legal action taken against any cleric found guilty. Organizations or seminaries associated with such clerics should be investigated and banned if necessary, but in real sense.
● The Punjab Government must compensate the affected residents whose properties were vandalized and stolen or burnt and renovate the damaged churches and properties. Displaced residents must also be provided protection against any further such incidents
● A unified condemnation of this incident by all political parties, accompanied by practical measures to ensure the safety and security of Christians and other religious minorities in the affected region and all over the country through local party representatives.
Concluding, the Pakistani-Americans asserted that mere condemnation from the State is inadequate and demanded thorough action to bring justice to the affected individuals and families and to establish a stronger framework of protection to the Christians in particular and the religious minorities in general.
