The investigations into the Jaranwala violence have revealed that the rampage occurred because of resentment between two men of the Christian community, sources within the police said.

Umair alias Raja Masih allegedly had extra-marital affairs with the wife of Pervaiz Masih. Pervaiz Codo had also tried to get Raja killed.

Sources added that Pervaiz had given money and a motorcycle to a man named Allah Ditta for the murder, however, Ditta despite efforts had failed. They said after facing failure, Pervaiz had hatched “this conspiracy” against Raja. Two people named Dawood and Boby were also apparently part of the conspiracy.

They claimed that Pervaiz had written a blasphemous letter with the name of Raja and committed desecration. They added that people in the area got charged after seeing the alleged blasphemous letter and sacred scriptures.

The alleged action triggered the people who later ransacked churches and homes of Christian community members.

Sources said that police have arrested Pervaiz and Allah Ditta. It merits to mention that Raja, who was named in the case, was already in the police custody.

According to the report of the HRCP mission, at least 24 churches and several dozen smaller chapels, as well as scores of houses were torched and looted in a series of brutal mob attacks against the Christian community in Jaranwala on Aug 16, 2023.

An application of the Christian trust organisation to the Lahore High Court, calling for a judicial inquiry into the rampage, has claimed that more than 500 suspects were involved in the riots, but the police have on arrested 25 to 30, just to save their skins.