Sarhadi Lutheran Church in Mardan was set on fire during the September 21 protests. PHOTO: FILE
Christians in district Mardan demanded that officials reinvestigate the destruction of the Sarhadi Luthern Church.
The Sarhadi Lutheran Church and several Christian residential quarters were set ablaze by a mob on September 21, 2012 when countrywide protests took place against the film ‘Innocence of Muslims’.
Around 30 participants held a demonstration outside the Peshawar Press Club on Friday. Led by Sarhadi Lutheran Church General Secretary Taimur Shahid, they carried placards and chanted slogans demanding action. Shahid addressed the protesters and alleged that some people from their own community were also involved in the incident.
He complained that several months have passed but the police have not made any significant arrests. Demonstrators appealed to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) governor, chief minister and police officials to make immediate arrests.
Earlier,K-P Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti had announced Rs30 million for the repair and reconstruction of the church. After the incident, Christian leaders had pardoned the rioters.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2013.
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@John B:
Yes, its more meaningful but also continues to be more dangerous and contentious and an uphill battle. There's nothing wrong to demand justice for any number of other wrongs done to them.
Pakistan continues to fail its religious minority citizens and shows its prejudice by not seriously protecting them and arresting the criminal culprits from their own religious majority population. Any progress for their rights, big or small, on any front should be welcomed against such a sad state of affairs.
It would be more meaningful if the Christians in PAK march for the Christian woman who is languishing in the jail on blasphemy charges. The church is just a building and Christ is there where ever one or two gather in his name.
If PAK has no conscience in this investigation, you cannot Impart it.