Sit-in over Jaranwala incident enters 9th day

The Christian community's sit-in in Faisalabad against the 2023 Jaranwala incidents continued for the eighth day, with protestors expressing dissatisfaction over what they describe as the authorities' failure to provide justice and compensation two years after the attacks.

The protest, organised by the Jaranwala Victims Committee and the Minority Rights Movement, began on August 16 at Christian Colony.

Demonstrators say the government had promised both justice and financial compensation after the August 16, 2023 violence, but little progress has been made.

Lala Robin Daniel, president of the Minority Rights Movement, told reporters that over 5,500 people were nominated in 23 cases related to the incident, while 340 were arrested.

He alleged that most accused were released on bail and that investigations by police and joint investigation teams (JITs) were flawed, resulting in benefit to the accused.

He said community leaders will continue their sit-in until a formal agreement addresses their concerns.

In solidarity, a parallel protest was also staged in Warispura. Samson Salamat, head of the Tolerance Movement from Lahore, joined the sit-in along with colleagues.

Government and police officials, however, maintain that cases are progressing through due legal process.

Authorities point out that trials are pending in anti-terrorism courts, and that investigations were carried out under existing legal frameworks.