Pakistan

Two Christians shot dead in Faisalabad, Section 144 imposed

Two Christian brothers accused of writing a blasphemous pamphlet critical of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) were shot dead.

Afp/express July 19, 2010

FAISALABAD: Section 144 was imposed in Faisalabad following severe clashes between rival groups in Waris Pura area on Monday.

The clashes came as a result of the killing of two Christian brothers accused of writing a blasphemous pamphlet critical of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) outside a court in Faisalabad.

Two people were reported to be injured as a result of the firing.

Police used Armored Personal Carrier vehicles to control the situation and resorted to aerial shelling to disperse the people.

An unidentified youth shot dead pastor Rashid Emmanuel, 32, and his brother Sajjad, and left their police escort critically wounded, as they left a court hearing, police official Amanullah Khan told AFP.

"Both brothers were rushed to hospital where they were pronounced dead," Khan said.

Doctor Rana Bashir, chief of Allied Hospital, confirmed the deaths and said the wounded police officer was undergoing surgery.

In another development, Regional Police Officer Aftab Cheema and Commissioner Tahir Hussain have held a meeting with Bishop Joseph Cots. Both expressed their grief over the killing of two Christian brothers. They also assured the Bishop of arresting the culprits soon.

The brothers were arrested on July 2, with their supporters claiming the charges against them were trumped up.

James Aftab, a senior church official in Faisalabad said the men had been "implicated in a fake case" while Atif Jamil Pagaan, a spokesman for Pakistan Minorities Democratic Foundation, also said the men had been set up.

"The charges levied on them are false as no evidence has been brought and no witness was present," he said, adding that the pamphlets were handwritten and photocopied, and anonymously distributed with the brothers' contact details.

Earlier this month, about 400 demonstrators burned tyres and held protests in the low-income Waris Pura neighbourhood of Faisalabad, a slum inhabited by nearly 100,000 Christians, demanding the death penalty for the accused.

Pakistan's blasphemy law carries the death penalty although no one has ever been sent to the gallows for the crime.

Human rights activists want the legislation repealed, saying it is exploited for personal enmity.

COMMENTS (41)

Mohammad Ali | 14 years ago | Reply I am a Muslim and I am so enraged of killing of two innocent Christians. Why?, because they are humans and secondly they have families just like anyone else, mother, father, spouses and children. I love them. Most Christian I knew they are as Pakistani as the rest of us are. Pakistan is their country. Despite they are not enjoying complete freedom they are loyal to their country. Make me governor of Punjab and see in a month I will wipe out all terrorists, close all dangerous Madressas, I will hire all minorities to report suspicious activities. I will abolish blasphemy law, I will prosecute anyone who will discriminate against any minority, I will publicly hang those who kill under the name of Islam and bring bad name to Islam, which truly means "Peace". I know Punjab Government is part of the crime so they will never do anything but lip service. All minorities will given preference for progress for the country and show the world we are a just nation and protect our minorities. I tell you this, if you want to judge a country then check how that country treat their minorities

Mohammad Ali | 14 years ago | Reply Those who killed Christians are not Muslims they are part of terrorist groups protected and connected operating under full support of Punjab Government. All those who who could kill these terrorists will go to heaven whether he is a Mslim Christian, Hindu or Sikh. Why? because they would bring peace back to Pakistan, and Islam means peace and Allah wanted to establish peace and people who would fight for Islam which means peace will go to heaven. Today, there is no peace in Pakistan since the day they brought the blaspheme law, terrorist are the only one benefitted by that law and entire Pakistan is suffering. All Pakistanis should call the world leaders and ask government to close down Madressas, Islamic groups causing terrorist acts and punnish entire group if any one of the Muslim commit crime from their group.

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Farhan | 14 years ago | Reply I agree that blasphemy laws in Pakistan has always been providing grounds to kill minorities. we should all voice against these laws. but most importantly, i request our minorities to ask their high-up to pressure present democratic govt to repeal these laws.

pnk jav | 14 years ago | Reply thanks ppl for agreeing me, but its high time that christians should induce religious and political leaders to think abt us is there any way to let them know that BLASPHEMY LAW SHOULD BE REMOVED THIS COUNTRY IS NAMED AS DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC. Readers! Please urge Express Tribunal to convey such thoughts to our leaders well i know ,infact we all know that this protest would be ended in a day or two, we all will be busy in that life and such incidents will keep on going, but still with a HOPE i wrote above

muhammad rafi | 14 years ago | Reply The two brothers are simply victim of blasphemy law. How long things can go this way? Media and civil society is fighting for cause of establishment i.e chief justice and so called fake degree issue .Even perhaps Human rights commission did not issue any statement .

Suzanna masih | 14 years ago | Reply i agree completely with pnk jav us Christians in Pakistan feel insecure from the very beginning of our lives considering the fact that justice from the government and courts never comes our way. there are countless examples of this .... our properties are grabbed by influential Muslim people who know that they can get away with it because minorities don't enjoy as much clout as them.... the very fact that proves this is that its almost going to b a year to Gojra incident and despite all the false commitments by the officials at the time the culprits and the maulvies who incited the the Muslim mob roam scotfree to live their lives while the unfortunate people who lost their lives squirm in their graves at the blatant injustice!! its high time that the EDUCATED Muslim community which believes in equality and tolerance step forward and come out in public against the horrible Blasphemy laws and in support of the minorities instead of just blogging and commenting in online forums!

Farhan | 14 years ago | Reply To Pnk Jav, Your message is very clear and loud, hope our authorities can listen to this truth. I asked you to come up with your real name, but you didnt, this shows that how insecure our Christian brothers and sisters feel in Pakistan. This is an undeniable truth that minorities feel insecure in Pakistan. What our state has done with our minorities is no secret, now what we citizens can do should be the question before every Pakistani. I completely agree with you that better to kill all minorities at once instead of killing them everyday. We have two distinct ways before us. Choose one.

pnk jav | 14 years ago | Reply christians are too much feared that even if sometold told my parents that i'm commenting on such issue, they will never let me even use computer, the think hw they can be such fearless to say something abt ur religion For God Sake muslims, we'r also living at the place from long time, we are pakistanis. we pray for pakistan in our churches , we celebrate independence day. mother dies when her children are killed in blasphemy father got mad when he listens that his children are no more because of the reason not actually exists, what have had happened to that sister who lost her brothers, and think about the wife who lost her life I PLEA TO END THIS DISCRIMINATION or either kill all christians at once

pnk jav | 14 years ago | Reply ofcourse muslims are also being killed, but that is a separate issue, dont inter-relate, that is done by terrorist(unknown), but such incidents happened with the help of muslims religious leaders(well known), then y they are relaxing in their homes but the fact is "Why people are not punished when they burn Bibles?" "why christians are laughed at in schools and colleges?" "why a muslim bot is given preference to a good post than a christian one?" "why a christian girl is killed in university by her muslim fellow just because she was better than her friend?" "why 7 peoples were burnt alive in gojra last year?" "why muslim say that christians said something wrong about their prophet, despite of the fatc that they know very well that they will be killed?" "why people are still free who did and who do and who will kill innocents in the name of a prophet?" just think deeply .......... christians are inherited fear from muslims, they know that they could be killed by muslims if they say something wrong, they even dont dare to talk about their own religion freely/openly Islam dont teaches the way muslims interprets and following

Azeem | 14 years ago | Reply That is the level of security and the justice, we have in Pakistan...

Stephen | 14 years ago | Reply I knew Rashid Emmanuel personally. He was a gentle, compassionate man. He treated his Muslim countrymen with respect and courtesy. He had no enemies. He only did good. The world is poorer without him.

Syed A. Mateen | 14 years ago | Reply In Pakistan people belong to different faiths and belives live together. If some one say some thing wrong about one's faith and religion, the courts are there to take up the matter and punish the culprits. No iniduvual is allowed to take law in own's hand. Killing a human being is equivalent to killing the whole humanity.

Farhan | 14 years ago | Reply To Pnk Jvd. Please write with your full name. Here, we respect everybodys' comments and religion, or at least we must do so. Your point has alot of weight and i respect your point that militancy in Pakistan is directly linked with Islam. But, this militancy has always been nutured by those who find it easy to misuse Islam. But, i equally respect Xaidis' point that now all Pakistanis are being killed indiscriminatley, we should target to the real cause. Today, every Pakistani knows that Christians, Ahmedis, Hindus are being targeted in Pakistan, and they all should condemn it.

pnk jav | 14 years ago | Reply Mr. Ali xiadi the aggresiveness of christians are due to such behaviour of muslims, why do u say us not to link muslims, ofcourse it makes the direct link. they dont think christians as human, they are always cursed in pakistan The person "death case" the comments are 100 percent true, whenever any muslim see a christian getting good education, they start jealous and this usually ends in blasphemy cases, the thing that u said that many died in imam barga and at all places, this must be done by terrorist, but how can u say not to link muslims with this case, last year on 1st august 2009 in gojra, some molvis announced on speakers , the wordings were" come out muslims to teach qafir christians", they also abused them, and u can get proof on website too,they killed 7 members of one family, if the religious leaders can speak like this than what can we expect from the followers

Anwar Ahmad | 14 years ago | Reply This is an un-describable shameful (if this word still exist in our dictionary and is not done with as with syllabus of schools) act done someone who might have thought he earned a place in heaven. This is not an act of ordinary terrorism but an act done in the name of "sanctity of honour of Prophet Muhammad (saw)". Yes indeed this condemnable and heinous act was done by Muslims and in the name of Islam. Rightly or wrongly is another issue altogether. Now what picture gets painted on the global canvas? Muslims kill Ahmadis because they are infidel. Muslims kill Christians because they allegedly commit blasphemy. Muslims chase out Hindus from their homes because one of them took water from Mosque's cooler. For God's sake; instead of cursing world for blaming Muslims and maligning Islam; look around and try to correct our behaviours towards others. Where are the advocate champs of Blasphemy Laws, including our Religious Minister, who still claim these barbaric laws protect minorities? The time has come for Pakistan to clean its constitution and statute books from so-called Islamic clauses and make it a secular country guaranteeing freedom of religion for all. Pakistan and near future world cannot go side-by-side with intolerant society and laws who have created over the years.

Adnan | 14 years ago | Reply May Lord Bless all of them and be them in His AMAAN!!!

Sultan Ahmed. | 14 years ago | Reply Never did criticize shouldn't criticize on personalities send by God for prosperity of human beings that is fundamental principle of peace and justice in the society.

Cehyr | 14 years ago | Reply Well if they were really involved in blasphemy & if many people witnessed their act...thn they shud hv provided judiciary wid some evidence...instead of killing dem on their own...wot if those brothers were innocent..?? Islam does NOT act on da basis of hypothesis & assumptions...it always DEMANDS Solid evidence/witnesses etc...if the evidence is enuff to prove their innocence...thn their murderers must be sentenced to death asap..!

Ali Xaidi | 14 years ago | Reply **I request Pnkjav and Zikria and other Christians fellows. Please do not link it with Islam or Muslims. Aren't they were Muslims too who killed in Data Darbar, Mosques and Imambargahs ? Ashura and Milaad Processions ? Our Pakistan Army, Rangers and Police persons. Moon Market and Qisa Khuwani Bazar. Yesterday they blast at Imambargah in Sargodha at time of Maghrib Prayers. They were Muslims too. Your, Our and Pakistan's enemies are same. These so-called Criminals who are labeled them as Muslims but they aren't. Taliban and Pro Taliban Organizations ( Sipah Sahaba, Lashakar-e-Jhangvi etc. ) and Unfortunately they have many supporters in Political Parties specially in Punjab Government specially Punjab Law Minister Mr. Rana Sanaullah. They saving them from Jails, Courts and now days Mr. Sanaullah is saving them from Operation. Please be Unite Against Enemies of Pakistan.

mike | 14 years ago | Reply Thanks for the words of support for Rashid and Sajid. These were my friends, and though I am an American follower of Isa Al-Masih, I only see the murderers as nothing more than men filled with hate, not love, which is the central teaching of Isa, including the love of our enemy. I pray for Pakistan, and I pray that the teachings of Isa Al-Masih would invade the land and bring peace where there is strife, and love where there is hatred! I also pray for real justice, not mob vengeance!

Mr.Iqbal | 14 years ago | Reply WE ARE PAKISTANI. We have born in Pakistan. We Love Pakistan. We proud to Pakistan. We say pray for Pakistan daily. Which holly book says to kill human???? See the role of Christian community in the development of Pakistan. Christian community pray and love to Muslim community when they in nuisance. They educate the Pakistani Nation, Provide medical facilitates, Provide technical skills and rehabilitate disable children or older, let them work. Do not kill human. This is not your job.

Ajay Sohail | 14 years ago | Reply

I request The Respected Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chief Minister Punjab to please take some serious action on whats going in the country. I must say that the law is to protect citizens not to kill them. Judges should take decisions not the men with guns.

rosario | 14 years ago | Reply this is too much. there should be an end to it. we request the government to please do something or else more destruction will come. we have lived as brothers for years now why are we been divided. are we getting so weak. its high time the punjab does something.

deathcase | 14 years ago | Reply they did not killed two christians mind you, they killed two PAKISTANIS in our country, blasphemy is when i want to grab the land of a minority, when it have a fight with him, when i rape their daughter. i do all this, take pride in being a muslim and call the other party blasphemous and kissa khattam. karo kari, rape,pedophiles still at large, dishonesty, corruption, isnt this against the rules laid down by any religion. this is the real blasphemy and we all should be killed if this law is to be applied. shame that we make these laws. even if these guyz were not killed, the law would have hanged them. This is not Quaid's Pakistan. i wish i could stand my image in the mirror but day by day it is getting tougher and tougher and mind you, it is not because of my looks!

Ali Haider | 14 years ago | Reply This is result of lack of govt. interest in minorities. In fact, govt. interest in anything relating the citizens.

Shan | 14 years ago | Reply Quid-e-Azam said that who is live in Pakistan he is come first as a Pakistan and after that a member of any religon.. so minority has also rights to live freedomly in Pakistan So Govt has to make some desesions for the minority.. Chrisitan are the peace full peoples they couldnt do that at any cost,....

Kamran | 14 years ago | Reply we dnt think so the Chrisitan people do that... it is injustic with the minority. and no one is availabe for taking the right action on that time when they have needs. Govt should be take notice and do complete inquiry......

Zikria | 14 years ago | Reply How much religious minorities especially Christian are feeling so much unrest and insecure in our Holy Motherland Pakistan? this incident reflects on this issue. It is a chain process against Christian whether it is Shanti Nagar or Gojra we do feel inscurity of our lives, property and dignity. Who will stop this????? Are we not Pakistanies?????? Are we not Human????????? Does Islam teaches this?????? We must accecpt each other and it is need of time to remove the 295 BC, The black law in broadlight. If we are pakistani then please allow us to live peacefully.

discostu | 14 years ago | Reply They have killed my brothers. Actually, now I might get shot. Since I cannot say they are my brothers.

pnk jav | 14 years ago | Reply people said that this is done by black waters get a life! in past many Bibles are burnt by muslims who took notice of that? even they got proof that bibles are burnt. nobody is able to show any proof in blasphemy cases, they people are always killed before any decision by court think positive that christians want peace, this is the only reason that they dont argue if any muslim abuse them christianity lead to peace and innocent people are being killed due to this sence of peace

pnk jav | 14 years ago | Reply they r killed outside court., this is the height of shame people are not even safe at that place the news was now given on any channel despite of the fact that they were caught many days earlier WHY MUSLIMS KILL CHRISTIAN, IS THIS THE RELIGION SAY? No religon in the world teaches the terror ofcourse, this will be given the name of terrorism, infact it is, but what next? some days people will protest....then they will be treat to quit such activities last year awful incident happended in gojra,7 were burnt alive, where are the people who promised that this will never happen again shame on all muslims, not on all pakistanis

Zahid | 14 years ago | Reply This is height of barbarism. Those poor people were not given a fair chance. If we take the law on our hands then there is no need of police system. Chief Justice should take notice of it. Will he????? I don't think so.

amjad aslam | 14 years ago | Reply It is not just in punjab,but throughout our country minorities are treated like animals by the society. In sindh hindu girls are kidnapped & forcibly converted.In frontier sikhs have had their heads chopped off. In pakistan,the vast majority including the urban,educated elite believe & follow the law of the jungle.whoever gets power & influence in any form coerces & blackmails others to get his way.it is the way our uncivilized society behaves. No one in the mainstream media has spoken against the discriminatory laws on our books,which persecute the weaker sections of our societies,the media is eager to discuss corruption but its lips become sealed when the issue of religous bigotry & intolerance has to be talked about.

pnk jav | 14 years ago | Reply they kill christians on fake arguments. christians are minorities, they dont even dare to speak openly with muslims, how can they criticize them christians in pakistan are inherited the feeling of fear from muslims. parents always teach their kids b4 they move to school that they should not talk abt religious matters

Hasan | 14 years ago | Reply

Did the Rahmat lil Alameen (SAW) allow the people of Taif

But where similarity ends is that unlike people of Taif these two innocent Christians and all others who have been attacked and killed have done nothing. False charges are brought onto them and then they are killed. The blasphemy laws have created a sort of blood thirsty mindset that unleashed itself from time to time. These laws have helped nothing and are part of the problem not part of any solution.

zubair | 14 years ago | Reply This is blackwater, yeh hum naheen

lkhan | 14 years ago | Reply The deaths of minorities in Pakistan is a shame on all Pakistanis. The two Christians were not given proper protection, that they be assassinated outside a court speaks for itself. Whether honour killings or minorities, so many have taken place within or at court premises or at their places of worship. Why is proper protection not given? The Punjab government has innocent blood on its hands.

Faseeha Arjumand | 14 years ago | Reply Did the Rahmat lil Alameen (SAW) allow the people of Taif to be buried between two mountains, when they abused and stoned him till his sandals filled with blood? Of course he did not. Did he not pardon Hinda at the fall of Mecca who had eaten the liver of Rahmat lil Alameen (SAW) uncle? Who are these killers following? Certainly not the Rahmat lil Alameen (SAW).

Ali Xaidi | 14 years ago | Reply No control over Banned Terrorist Organizations. ( SSP, LEJ and JM ) they are still working freely because Punjab Law Minister and some others are in deal with them. So they killing Innocent Pakistani's by taking edge of law or without it too.

Fahed Gill | 14 years ago | Reply This is Called, Justice Minorities are generally neglected section of the society due their difficulty to adjust and live with harmony with other fellow nationals as well as their rejection by small reactionary groups. When these small reactionary groups grow more than their size, either violence erupts or minorities’ rights are violated.

S. Ali Raza | 14 years ago | Reply We have just invited more trouble.. :(

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