The interim chief minister of Punjab was caught off guard by a young girl from Jaranwala when he visited a church in Faisalabad district on Sunday. She asked Moshin Naqvi about the safety of her community.
“Can you guarantee this won’t happen again? Can you ensure our safety? Can you confirm that I, as a Pakistani Christian, am valued?” she asked Naqvi after his speech where he promised support to the minority community.
The development was shared by Bishop Church of Pakistan Azad Marshall on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday.
More than 80 Christian homes and 19 churches were vandalised in an hours-long riot in Jaranwala in Punjab province on Wednesday, after allegations that a Quran had been desecrated spread through the city.
On Sunday, around 200 Christians sat in chairs set up in a narrow alley alongside the main Salvation Army Church – its cross still missing after being ripped down by the crowds.
The Bishop called for an end to “judicial apartheid” through the application of laws between the majority and minority populations, aiming to prevent future incidents similar to those in Jaranwala.
He revisited Jaranwala and observed the Sunday alongside his fellow brothers and sisters. Dedicated members persevered despite the absence of water and electricity, according to the post as the building remains unusable yet a sizable gathering came together.
“With tears, we sang, prayed, and read scriptures, seeking understanding and experiencing the presence of Jesus among us.”
Marshall said that while approximately 20 churches continue to endure challenges without basic amenities, one church was singled out and minimally restored for the chief minister’s visit to Jaranwala. The town, he lamented that after facing immense tragedy and violence requires substantial efforts for recovery.
The Bishop Church of Pakistan described the interim chief minister as a kind and compassionate man who has played a pivotal role in drawing global attention to the struggles of those without a voice.
The girl’s query has sparked numerous additional questions in my mind too. “It demands an answer: equal laws for equal citizens.”
A choir girl sang alongside a tabla player, as dozens of security personnel guarded the area. The crowds joined their hands together in prayer, except to occasionally wipe their eyes.
Many of the attendees had come from surrounding cities to show support. While the church was too damaged to host the service, Christians entered in small groups to survey the blackened windows and cracked ceilings.
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Christians, who make up around two per cent of the population, occupy one of the lowest rungs in Pakistani society. Hundreds of Christians fled the violence in Jaranwala, many unable to return yet – their houses gutted and broken contents strewn across the street.
Most of them are sanitary workers on meagre wages who occupy cramped homes shared by up to 18 people.
Some are sheltering at a government school or staying with relatives while the local government has promised to rebuild them.
The number of people held for violence in Jaranwala town of Faisalabad district in Punjab rose to 158 after police arrested another 30 suspects for their alleged links to vandalism, officials said on Saturday.
Two Christian brothers have also been arrested for blasphemy, accused of desecrating the Quran.
(With input from AFP)
