LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday visited the family of the deceased Christian couple and announced a compensation of Rs5 million and 10 acres of land for the family, Express News reported.
Watch the video of Shahbaz's visit below:
Earlier, as civil society and human rights organisations continue protesting against the killing of a Christian couple accused of blasphemy, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif vowed to punish those behind the heinous crime.
On November 4, an enraged mob beat a Christian man and his pregnant wife to death and then burnt their bodies in the brick kiln where they worked for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran.
The premier, who is chairing a cabinet meeting in Islamabad, said the culprits will be brought to book. Federal ministers attending the meeting also condemned the attack.
While in Lahore, CM Shahbaz met the inspector general Punjab and other law enforcement agencies officials and reiterated that strict action will be taken against the perpetrators.
The chief minister was informed that an anti-terrorism court has already begun hearing cases against the arrested suspects.
He was also told that police have recorded the statement of Yousuf Gujjar – owner of the kiln where the couple was burnt.
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It is painful to listen and read about such inhuman incidents.stop killing at the names of Holy and Sacred Personalities.I wonder why such fanatic mullahs have given authority to play with lives of innocent people at the name of religion or what so ever their grudges.It is govt. responsibility to restrict their role and keep check and balance over such evil minded pseudo scholars.they distorted real picture of Islam and under patronization of govt.playing such a brutal and savage games.
It is highly insensitive to give this money to the relatives. It would've been better if the people who committed the crime were hanged on national TV next to the same brick kiln.
To add insult to injury most of the times this is just lip service and they won't receive anything.
A sordid, disgusting and hate filled tragedy incited by a mullah. Has he been arrested? Should there not be laws forbidding mullahs to sermon such demagogic language from mosques? When will our country learn to respect all minorities, religions and culture – human rights? Only then can it begin to build a road to democracy, development and progress…
@Sana: Both need to be punished equally.
@an Indian This is a Pakistani web site. We Pakistanis appreciate the very sensible posts of Raj-USA.
The picture says it all about the tragedy. Its costing too many lives. The blasphemy laws need to be either reformed or scrapped. It gives religious and moral cover to accusers or attackers that allows them to take the laws into their own hands knowing full well they'll get well treated by state officers, and others can't dare say anything about it.
Seeing the picture of innocent children of deceased can khadema alla bring back their parents with money? If he had any conscious he would not harbored such fanatics just to get some votes. The person who instigated all this should be hanged in public but soon we will see religious zealots coming out on streets to protect their sacred imam who is a hero in their eyes. This is yet another incident which will soon be forgotten and we will surely many more such incidents. The only winner in all this is the khadema alla who knows how to protect his precious vote bank.
it wud have been better to punish the culprits courageously without any fear of being dramatized due to Fake Religious Emotions .....
Having an infant and a toddler myself, I can understand how much they need your attention all day. Literally, by looking at their pictures my heart cries out for these kids. They are waiting for their mother's love and father's hug in the evening, who will provide these precious moments to them. I hope whoever has done this to them will stay somewhere away in no-man's land and die there as they have no right to live in the civilised world.
Heart breaking picture:-( Pure evil.
You cannot have religion based extremist foreign policy goals, support religious hate based terrorism externally and expect to have peace and tranquility inside. You cannot eat the cake and have it too.
The beautiful couple that was sacrificed at altar of religion. Just so shameful on all of us. Whole world needs to be ashamed.
Throwing money at the victim for a photo-op..........insult to injury. Mr.C.M give them justice instead, if you care so much.
12 year old hindu girl Anjali converted to Islam and married and her name changed to Salma has been forgotten. No arrest of the muslim man who married her and no arrest of his family members and all others who solemnized the marriage though laws were enacted in Sindh recently prohibiting marriage of minors. When the 12 year old hindu girl was brought to the court she was in a very confused state of mind. She was not only in terrible shock after being threatened and frightened by the muslims and their family members who kidnaped the girl and took her to their homes but could even be drugged when brought to the court. The court should have administered a drug test and sent her to her family who were waiting for her at the court. Instead, the court sent her to an Islamic shelter home where she would be threatening her with dire consequences for her and her family would continue. In the end no culprit would either be caught, charged or punished. Most likely the girl would be sent for her continued rape to the muslim family. This is the law as practiced by muslims of Pakistan.
In Pakistan Ahmedis, Christians and hindus cannot do much. World community does not take much interest for Ahmedis. There is some interest in the world community for Christians and this is the only reason that Pakistan takes or pretends to take some interest for Christians. Hindus have no support from anywhere and are also a poor community with virtually no political representation. Only Shias can do something and they are keeping quiet when Ahmedis, Christians and hindus are targeted. In the end they are themselves being targeted though Pakistan's founder himself was a shia. Overseas Pakistanis are trying to cover up or give some reason but do nothing on these or stop these. They come out for Kashmir cause in UK but do nothing for these christians, hindus and ahmedis. Shame on this community. In the old days of only printed media, authors and writers can get away with one sided or twisted stories. In this days of interactive news media, what one says and does is noticed by many. Equally notices is their silence and inaction on those issues. Opinions and perceptions are formed based on these. So, overseas Pakistanis: take up these issues with the government of Pakistan all its visiting leaders. Let us hear your voices and see you in action.
Let us look at the facts.
a) This is not an isolated incident. b) The mob did it in the name of religion. c) They were asked to do so by sermons from a mosque. d) This is typical and has happened in many other places.
Look at all these facts and it is impossible to say "this has nothing to do with Islam".
Unless you are an ostrich, or a hypocrite.
what the heck!? is this a badshahat?? what a dumb way to solve a problem: give away money and land and all is okay? why bless them with 5 million of tax payer money and land??? why not punish the criminals who did this crime and make them pay for it!? The mullah who incited hatred and the murderers who committed this evil act need to be brought to justice!!
@Aqeel Younes: Truly you are ignorant. What about the three children that are left orphaned? Should they have something to compensate them for their future? Education? Clothes? Food? A place to live? Considering both parents were killed by a mob. and the govt. could not even protect them. Hope this does not happen to your children.
This man weighs every thing in money terms and he is not ashamed. He did this with his Modal Town victims and got a slap in the face.He is doing the same.Rest assured this is cruel and disgusting PR and nothing more.
No money can compensate the loss of parents of little kids MIND You.
Shahbaz Sharif is a shameful character. The price of the barbarity that took the lives of two innocent minority members is mere 5 million.
Punjab government has failed to protect Christian minority!!
Shahbaz Sharif shedding crocodile tears.
Why the Mullah has not been arrested who instigated the mob to kill the poor labourers. A few months past same thing happened in Gujranwala where Ahmadi women and children were burnt alive by the mob. Even there no action was taken against the Mulla, the main culprit. CM has dished out five million rupees for the family. It is OK. But he did not help the aggrieved family in Gujranwala . Only because they were Ahmadis. Why this discrimination ?Had he taken stern action against the imam masjid things could have been different in Kasur.
Its so sad, This tax payers money should be spent on educating the ignorant lot of this country so that unfortunate incidents like these can be avoided. No wonder, our country of full of QADRI mindset. We have to change this mindset. Stop wasting our money, as if you are giving it from your own pocket.
Shabaz Shareef don't tag the death with money...........try to improve law and order and give protection to common people
Here we go again, Mian Sahab is paying for a life again from tax payers pocket instead fixing the problem. I wonder how much they will pay themselves if someone does the same with Hamza Shahbaz or Hussain Nawaz. May RS 5 million as well. We pakistanis don't need this tax payers money. We need you to fix the lawlessness in this country which you have been promoting through people like Gullo Butt.
The PM and CM can vow all they want........but converting the vow into reality is where they WILL fail .
First he should punish Model Town culprits then go and punish others.
true to his reputation and style of governance,he wakes up this time too,the morning after though!
A sordid, disgusting and hate filled tragedy incited by a mullah. Has he been arrested? Should there not be laws forbidding mullahs to sermon such demagogic language from mosques? When will our country learn to respect all minorities, religions and culture - human rights? Only then can it begin to build a road to democracy, development and progress...
We are still living in Stone Age & we can't protect our minorities