Pakistan

JITs formed to investigate Jarawanwala incident

Punjab govt forms multiple bodies to probe into attack on 19 churches by a violent mob

Muhammad Shahzad August 24, 2023

Members of the Christian community chant slogans as they gather to condemn the attacks on churches and houses in Jaranwala town of Faisalabad, during a protest in Karachi, Pakistan August 18, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS

LAHORE:

The interim Punjab government on Thursday created multiple joint investigation teams (JIT) to investigate the attack on 19 churches and several homes over blasphemy allegations in Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad district last week.

On August 16, a charged mob, incited by the loudspeakers of mosques, stormed the neighbourhood ransacking and torching at least 19 churches and over 80 residences besides terrorising members of the Christian community.

Earlier that day, the Punjab police had booked at least three local Christians over blasphemy allegations and attempted to negotiate with the Muslim mob.

Members of the Christian community have held demonstrations demanding immediate repairs and restoration of the burnt churches and houses.

The protestors have alleged that despite intimation, the Faisalabad police did not take timely action against the agitators.

On the other hand, initial investigations have indicated a meticulously orchestrated plot behind the incident of ransacking of property in Jaranwala on Wednesday.

Notably, Christians make up around two per cent of the population and occupy one of the lowest rungs in Pakistani society.

Read Top court to hear petition on Jaranwala rampage

Following the attack, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar assured all the minority communities in the country that the government was committed to protecting their lives and properties, vowing to bring the perpetrators of the heinous attacks against them to justice.

The Punjab government has already announced that it will pay Rs2 million in compensation to each family of the Christian community that lost a house during the recent violence.

Today, the provincial government through Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Shakeel Ahmed constituted at least ten different JITs to probe the matter further.

The JITs have been constituted under the provisions of Section 19(a) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 and comprise six members, including SSP (Investigation) Faisalabad, DSP CTD Faisalabad, DSP Inv-1 Faisalabad as well as Inspectors/SHOs and Sub-Inspectors of relevant police station. Each JIT shall also comprise of one additional co-opted member.