Washington, 17 Aug, 2023 (GNP): The United States of America urged Pakistan to thoroughly interrogate mob attacks on churches and houses of Christians that erupted in the province of Punjab due to rumors of blasphemy.
A big mob of around a hundred men attacked a Christian neighborhood, outside of the industrial city of Faisalabad on August 16 following reports that the Holy Quran had been desecrated.
The spokesperson of the US State Department Vedant Patel said during a media briefing, “We are deeply concerned that churches and homes were targeted in response to reported Quran desecration in Pakistan.”
Also Read: Protest erupted in Baghdad’s green zone over Quran burning incident
He stated that as the United States always defends free expression, “violence or the threat of violence is never an acceptable form of expression.”
“We urge Pakistani authorities to conduct a full investigation into these allegations and call for calm,” Patel remarked.
In Pakistan, blasphemy is a contentious subject where anyone found to have disrespected Islam or Islamic figures can be sentenced to death.
The recent anti-Christian violence took place in the fifth-most populous country in the world, where on Monday a little-known senator named Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar was sworn in as interim prime minister to oversee elections.
In response to the Faisalabad attack, the interim premier said in his post on X, “Stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities. All law enforcement has been asked to apprehend culprits and bring them to justice. Rest assured that the government of Pakistan stands with our citizenry on an equal basis.”
I am gutted by the visuals coming out of Jaranwala,#Faisalabad. Stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities. All law enforcement has been asked to apprehend culprits and bring them to justice. Rest assured that the government of Pakistan stands… https://t.co/GHWUGA1NNq
— Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (@anwaar_kakar) August 16, 2023
