Attack on Christians in Pakistan, 25 Arrested, Case Against 450

Twenty-five persons were arrested and at least 450 people were booked under terrorism and other charges by the police in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Sunday for attacking the minority Christian community and police personnel.

On Saturday, a mob led by radical Islamist Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) activists attacked the Christian community members in Mujahid Colony in the Sargodha district of Pakistan’s Punjab. Two Christians and 10 policemen were injured in this attack. The mob torched and ransacked the homes and properties of Christians.

According to the FIR, the mob of over 450 people, 50 of them identified surrounded the residence and shoe factory of Nazir Masih, an elderly Christian, accusing him of desecration of the religious book. They burnt down the shoe factory, some shops and some houses. They tried to burn down Masih alove, who was saved by the police.

Although the family of Masih denied desecration of the religious book but the mob wanted to lynch him.

Pakistan police said that a case will be filed against Nazir if he is found guilty of desecration of the religious book.

In 2023, at least 24 churches and over 80 houses belonging to Christians in Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad district were burnt down by a mob, who alleged that Christians had desecrated the Quran.