Violence against Christians on blasphemy erupts again in Pakistan

Sialkot: September 11, 2009. (PCP report) Muslim mob turned violent burning homes, setting one Church on fire and tortured innocent peaceful Christian of Jhethe Key village while police opened fire on Christian protesters condemning attack and block by administration to reach victims.

As news of attack on Christians spread in Sialkot city, hundreds of Christian youth gathered on Wazirabad-Sialkot road which leads to village Jhethe Key only miles away from district headquarter situated in sub-district Samraial. The Christians were demanding lift siege of village by administration and allow them to visit their friends and relatives whose fate was unclear.

The Muslim radicals attacked Christians after a teenage girl of village accused a Christian boy to push her in street which made one Supara of Holy Quran to fell in drain.

The Muslim cleric in village Jhethe Key announced at local mosque to gather and attack Christians who were accused of desecrating Holy Quran.

According to PCP sources in Sambrial, a few kilometer from site of incident, Muslim mob torched homes and a Church. The Christians of village were also beaten and firearms were used by Muslim rioters.

The Christian protestor in Sialkot city also entered in argument with one Christian minister in Punjab government who attempted to reach village Jhethe Key. The Christian were demanding resignation of Christian minister in Federal and Punjab government on their failure to protect life and property of Christians.

The Muslim militants attacked Gojra, Korian and Bahmin Wala Christians in July-August 2009, burning hundreds of homes and killing dozens of Christians on allegations of blasphemy.

The recent attack on Christians in village of Sialkot was preplanned by Muslim extremists and fourth such attack in two months. How many homes are burnt and how many Christians are injured by Muslims village Jhethe Key is unknown as PCP correspondent was denied entry to village and Muslim owned electronic media not covering incident.

The Christians in Pakistan have issued deadline of September 25, 2009, to Pakistan government to repeal Blasphemy law while establishment assures procedural amendment .

Dr. Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress PCC have urged President Asif Ali Zardari to repeal blasphemy law by an executive order before September 25, 2009.

“Christians condemn statements made by Federal Minsister for Minorities Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti and Minister in Punjab government Kamran Michael on procedural amendments in blasphemy instead of repeal of this black law which is source of violence against Christians in Pakistan” said Nazir Bhatti

Nazir Bhatti demanded resignation of Shahbaz Bhatti, Kamran Michael and all other selected Christian parliamentarians on their failure to protect life and property of Christians in Pakistan.

News Source: Pakistan Christian Post