Demonstrators burn furniture during a protest in the Badami Bagh area of Lahore March 9, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS
An over 3,000-strong mob on March 9 set ablaze more than 150 houses of Christians in the Joseph Colony over alleged blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by Sawan Masih, a 28-year-old Christian sanitation worker.
Sawan was arrested on March 8 when his Muslim friend, Shahid Imran, accused him [Sawan] of blasphemy, triggering an exodus of fearful Christians from the neighbourhood.
The police filed a criminal case against hundreds of unidentified people.
According to Operations DIG Rai Tahir, police teams have been raiding various places to make arrests, while video evidence is also being used during investigations.
The victims of the attack, alongside Christian non-governmental organisations, protested against the destruction of their neighbourhood today while District Coordination Officer (DCO) - with his team - surveyed the area to estimate losses incurred.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also visited the area today to meet those affected by the incident. He had earlier ordered an immediate inquiry into the arson attacks and restoration of destroyed houses in three days.
For speedy work, CM Shahbaz had also said that multiple builders should be hired.
COMMENTS (25)
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Yes! arrest and prosecute them all, including the mullahs and politicians who colleded to make this happen
Pakistani media are creating false hope.
Remember the mentally unstable man that was dragged out of police station a year ago, beaten to death by hundreds of men, and then burned? I recall that the police filed criminal cases against hundreds of unidentified attackers/killers. A similar burning and police 'investigation' happened a few months ago.
Has justice been delivered yet for that killed and burned victim?
I can't find anything in the English written news papers, but maybe the Pakistani media has reported it in Urdu. Is there any mention of arrests being made and the suspects having being tried before the court and convicted of the heinous crimes in that case from almost a year ago?
Police arrested 100 people to be freed honourbly on lack of evidence later on.
Punjab Government has yet not taken any action against people responsible for Gojra riots, What should Pakistanis expect from Shahbaz Sharif. The police wants to do it job, but then how Shahbaz Sharif will use it for his own political purposes throughout Punjab.
All these people who have been arrested will be released on the orders of Chief Minister Punjab's orders.
@karachi 5: The charges should be under terrorism, nothing less. Punjab government is notorious for diluting the charges, so that nothing happens in the end.
@Afghani Swani: Yeah instead of being merely attacked the Christians would have been killed. Remember it was Zia who started it all.
where is humanity!!! what a rubbish jock very next day they will release from court with shower of rose petals enough is enough need real solution. change the law !!!!!!!!!!!! no more puppet shows.
I wanna place an FIR against these 100 people under the charge "bringing bad name to me and my religion". Is there any such law in the country which can help me ?????
Let us all condemn such attacks..
"Sawan was arrested on March 8 when his Muslim friend, Shahid Imran, accused him [Sawan] of blasphemy, triggering an exodus of fearful Christians from the neighbourhood."
so basically this was nothing more than some playground fight? Wow what friends they are!
And these people talk about Godhra riots!!
I am ashamed to be a Pakistani
You should start with firing the police chief who apparently allowed this mob to loot and burn - then jail the imam who incited the crowd - then use every video available tp track down and jail every person who participated in this crime. It's past time Pakistan send a message to religious fanatics that they can no longer intimidate/harm/murder in the name of religion.
@ Eddie dex
You can criticise the mob behaviour but why to question the law?? The law does not state that the houses and colnies of whole community shall be ablazed.
Lol, they can never catch us, We are the "Naloom Afraad"
More barbarian action facilitated by the so called Blasphemy law...it is a black law, an abomination and should be eliminated...there is no place in the 21st century for such archaic rules and behavior...Pakistan is still in the dark ages and needs to rebuild itself...
Had this been in Karachi not a single suspect would have been arrested. At least give Punjab government some credit.
All these people will be released quietly after a few weeks. This is standard practice in land of pure.
Things would have been different had Zia ul Haq been alive.
"The police filed a criminal case against hundreds of unidentified people." This one line alone defines the seriousness and professional competence of our "Law Enforcement Agencies."
But in first stage why police not come to prevent them to burn homes. Why police and govt were inactive when they were burning??
What a horrible country and society. Ugh