“Why Pakistan was being created like India,” asked Ghazala Shafique, a pastor who was protesting over the incidents of vandalising multiple churches in Faisalabad’s Jaranwala.
Shafique was among several Pakistanis who raised their voice against the violence. The violence broke out in Jaranwala after allegations spread that Christians had desecrated the Quran, forcing families to flee their homes.
Images on social media showed crowds of hundreds armed with sticks and rocks storming through the streets, with smoke rising from church buildings.
Reports claimed that at least two or three different places of worship were attacked and vandalised by the mob following rumours of blasphemy of Islam.
Shafique in a video statement claimed that people belonging to her community were being arrested in fake cases.
“Hundreds of bibles have been fired, an office of Christian AC has been vandalised and people have been displaced from home,” she said, “where should we go, are we not Pakistani[s] and why a situation is being created like Manipur?”
Many actors also condemned the incident. Mahira Khan posted on X, formally known as Twitter, “Shame on us!”
Azekah Daniel, who herself belongs to the minority community, said: “This is NOT Jinnah’s Pakistan! I strongly condemn this atrocity against the Christian community. Why can’t show some respect for holy places be it a Church or a Mosque? I stand against these atrocities and unjust acts of violence! I DEMAND JUSTICE FOR ALL.”
Iffat Omar termed the incident “Pakistan’s hopless case”.
Jibran Nasir lamented that an entire community has not a single elected representative in Punjab at the local, provincial and national levels whom the people can access and communicate their grievances to.
Singer-cum-philanthropist Shehzad Roy urged the state to arrest the culprits while replying to President Bishop Church of Pakistan Azad Marshall’s social media post.
Over 100 people have so far been arrested, according to a statement from the interim Punjab government. “The desecration of the Holy Quran has been made and emotions of the Muslims have been injured. An order has been issued for the arrest of the accused,” it added.
