World Minorities Alliance Convener Julius Salik said the state had failed to provide protection to minorities as this was “the fourth such incident ever since the PML-N came to power last year”.
He said impunity for the perpetrators is the reason for the recurrence of mob violence incidents.
Salik demanded that the government, instead of just condemning the incident, convene a national conference comprising all religious minorities to address the issue. He also called for promoting Pakistani nationalism.
Ijaz Bhatti, a pastor, said protecting lives and property of the citizens was the state’s responsibility and bringing the perpetrators to book will prevent the persecution of minorities in the country.
The protesters walked from Melody Market to the National Press Club, and then to the Constitution Avenue and concluded their protest at the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The speakers addressed participants in front of the press club and the apex court. A large number of people, including women and children, attended the rally.
They asked the government to take steps to put an end to the misuse of laws.
Demonstrators also carried placards and banners inscribed with messages against religious persecution and chanted slogans against intolerance, misuse of laws and religious extremism.
On November 4, a Christian couple was lynched after being accused of blasphemy. They were killed and then burnt in a brick kiln where they worked.
Police arrested nearly 300 men from Chak 59 and Chak 60 the next day for killing Sajjad Masih and his wife Saima alias Shama.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2014.
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