Jaranwala probe points to meticulous plot
Charged mob of over hundreds of people storms a Christian neighborhood in Jalanwala tehsil of Faisalabad, vandalising homes and churches on blasphemy allegations on August 16, 2023. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Initial investigations have indicated a meticulously orchestrated plot behind the incident of ransacking of property in Jaranwala on Wednesday.
Addressing an assembly of leaders from the Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Hindu, Bahai and other communities on Thursday, Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the occurrence had brought the entire nation together in solidarity with the Christian community.
He expressed sorrow at the calculated effort to sow chaos and disrupt the prevailing atmosphere of unity in the nation.
He called for a collaborative endeavour with scholars and leaders from the Christian community and other minority groups to formulate a comprehensive strategy aimed at preventing future occurrences of this nature.
The caretaker CM iterated his commitment to swiftly reverse the damage caused during the incident.
He assured the participants that efforts were under way to restore the affected structures to their original state in the coming days.
Representatives from diverse religious backgrounds, including Bishop Nadeem Kamran, Bishop Sebastian Shah, Allama Hussain Akbar, Dr Raghib Naimi, Amarnath Randhawa, Rohia Maufadi, Pastor Mehnual Khokhar, Sardar Kalyan Singh, Pandit Bhagat Lal and Maulana Zubair Hasan, condemned the Jaranwala incident. The session concluded with a prayer led by Bishop Kamran.
Meanwhile, Punjab Governor Muhammad Balighur Rahman also expressed his sorrow over the distressing incidents that had unfolded in Jaranwala. He emphasised that responding to one misstep with another is not a solution. The rule of law must prevail, and individuals should not take it upon themselves to enforce justice.
The governor highlighted that the principles of Islam advocate peace, tolerance, and unity among all people. He underscored that the Pakistani Constitution stands firm against causing offense to religious sentiments and condemns any form of harm to life and property.
He reaffirmed that Pakistan’s Constitution and legal framework guarantee equal rights for minorities. He pointed out the valuable contributions made by minority communities across various sectors for the nation.
The governor called for a collective and earnest endeavour to enhance the well-being of the country and eradicate the roots of animosity.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi on Thursday condemned the Jaranwala incident, in which churches and many homes were ransacked.
Addressing a press conference flanked by the Lahore archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw, Ashrafi said: “We have come to apologise to the leadership of the Christian community for what happened in Jaranwala.”
“Though Muslims are in the majority in the country, the Christian community living in Pakistan also enjoys equal rights,” Ashrafi maintained.
He made it clear that Islam teaches a lesson in respecting all the prophets, adding that those responsible for the incident should be brought to justice.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lahore archbishop said, “Those who were involved in the Jaranwala incident want to spread unrest in the country. Such an incident has been orchestrated through proper planning.”
Earlier today, the United States had expressed concern over the church burning incidents in Jaranwala. In his press briefing of August 16, Vedant Patel, the principal deputy spokesperson of the US State Department, said the US was concerned over the incident.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2023.