A senior police officer Javed Khalid said
Badami Bagh Police charged a 26-year old
man Sawan Masih with blasphemy and
booked him under Section 295-C. He said
the accused had been arrested.
Geo News reporter said tension prevailed
in the area since last night and on
Saturday angry protesters went out of
control.
They pelted police officials with stones,
leaving several injured. Police have failed
in containing the protesters.
The police requested some Muslim clerics
to intervene and bring the situation under
control.
Allama Tahir Ashrafi, Chairman Pakistan
Ulema Council said people should refrain
from such acts of violence as the accused
had been arrested.
He said such acts would create wrong
impression of the country. Other noted
Ulema also condemned the violence and
called on the government to provide
protection to the Christians.
President, Prime Minister, CM Punjab
take notice
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister
Raja Pervez Ashraf and CM Punjab
Shehbaz Sharif have taken notice of the
incident while CM Punjab has ordered a
judicial inquiry.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Christian homes attacked, President, PM take notice, CM orders Judicial inquiry
Christian homes attacked, President, PM take notice, CM orders Judicial inquiry
A senior police officer Javed Khalid said
Badami Bagh Police charged a 26-year old
man Sawan Masih with blasphemy and
booked him under Section 295-C. He said
the accused had been arrested.
Geo News reporter said tension prevailed
in the area since last night and on
Saturday angry protesters went out of
control.
They pelted police officials with stones,
leaving several injured. Police have failed
in containing the protesters.
The police requested some Muslim clerics
to intervene and bring the situation under
control.
Allama Tahir Ashrafi, Chairman Pakistan
Ulema Council said people should refrain
from such acts of violence as the accused
had been arrested.
He said such acts would create wrong
impression of the country. Other noted
Ulema also condemned the violence and
called on the government to provide
protection to the Christians.
President, Prime Minister, CM Punjab
take notice
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister
Raja Pervez Ashraf and CM Punjab
Shehbaz Sharif have taken notice of the
incident while CM Punjab has ordered a
judicial inquiry.
‘100 ’ Christian houses torched in Lahore over ‘blasphemy ’
An angry mob of reportedly
more than 3 ,000 people attacked
and burnt almost 100 houses of the
Christian community mob on
Saturday in Badami Bagh area of
Lahore over an alleged blasphemy
case .
The mob pelted police officials with
stones and injured many including SSP
Operations Suhail Sukhera and the
SHO of Badami Bagh.
The residents belonging to the
minority community , including women
and children, fled their homes to
avoid being attacked .
Police have arrested the accused of
blasphemy, Savan Masih alias Bubby ,
and shifted him to an undisclosed
location after Imran, a local barber ,
accused him of blasphemy.
The police registered an FIR No
112 / 13 under Section 295 - C against
the accused.
Badami Bagh SHO Hafiz Abdul Majid
told a local newspaper that preliminary
investigations showed that Imran had
falsely accused Savan of blasphemy.
Savan ’ s father Chandar Masih also
denied that his son had committed
blasphemy saying they held the Holy
Prophet ( PBUH ) in high esteem.
Angry mob torches dozens of houses
Angry mob torched dozens
of houses in Joseph Colony here at
Badami Bagh area on Saturday
following allegations of blasphemy
against a Christian man.
The angry mob attacked the houses
in protest what they claimed
blasphemy act by a Christian man.
Tension prevailed in the area since
Friday night and on Saturday angry
protesters went berserk. They pelted
police officials with stones , leaving
several injured. Police have failed in
restricting the protesters.
Later, the police requested some
Muslim clerics to intervene and bring
the situation under control.
Allama Tahir Ashrafi, Chairman
Pakistan Ulema Council said people
should refrain from such acts of
violence as the accused had been
arrested . He said such acts would
create wrong impression of the
country. Other Ulema also condemned
the violence.
A senior police officer Javed Khalid
said Badami Bagh Police charged a 26-
year old man Sawan Masih with
blasphemy and booked him under
Section 295-C. He said the accused had
been arrested.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah
said the accused man was in police
custody. He said all those involved in
the arson would be arrested, adding
that his government would try to
rehabilitate the affected Christian
families.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has
taken notice of the incident and has
sought a report from the Home
Secretary Punjab.
On the other hand, the Human Rights
Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)
expresses deep grief and anger at the
unchecked attack on over 100 homes
belonging to the Christian community
in Badami Bagh. The shocking incident
occurred after a Christian young man
was accused of blasphemy.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari
has taken notice of the incident of
torching of the houses of Christian
community by a mob in Badami Bagh
and had called for a report into that
unfortunate incident. Spokesperson to
the President Senator Farhatullah
Babar said that the President,
expressing grave concern over the
incident of vandalism, has directed the
authorities to ensure safety and
security of lives and property of the
citizens.
The President said that safeguarding
the rights of all citizens — Muslims and
non Muslims alike was one of the main
responsibilities of the Government and
it would continue undertaking every
effort for protection of their rights as
enshrined in the Constitution of
Pakistan.
Shahbaz orders judicial inquiry
Badami Bagh arson in Lahore : Christians seek justice
Members of the Christian
community on Saturday staged violent
protest demonstrations across the
metropolis against Lahore attacks on their
houses. The attacks are cited to be a
reaction against an alleged blasphemy
case against a Christian man.
A large number of people from the
Christian community assembled Essa
Nagri, Sharah-e-Faisal and Korangi.
Protesters in Essa Nagri area burnt tyres
and pelted passing vehicles with stones,
causing traffic jams on Shahrah-e-Faisal.
Church of Pakistan Karachi Dioceses
Bishop Sadiq Daniel strongly condemned
the incident, stating that at least 175
families had been directly affected by the
arson. Victimizing minorities had become
nefarious on pretext of blasphemy
allegations. Knowing the repercussions in
Pakistan, it is highly unlikely that
someone would resort to blasphemy, said
Daniel.
Christian Community leader Bishop Dr
Ijaz Inayat Bhatti termed the incident a
crime against humanity, adding, “Torching
more than 100 houses for allegations
against a single person is an inhuman act
and a disservice to Islam.” He said Islam
is a religion of peace and saving the lives
and possessions of their Christian
brothers was an obligation for Muslims.
He also said that it was illogical that a
person in Pakistan would commit
blasphemy. He added, “If a person did
this, than judiciary and administration is
here to probe into the matter and punish
the guilty person. What is this if some
people declared themselves plaintiff,
lawyer, judge and executer at a time.”
Dr. Bhatti demanded the government
and army to arrest the culprits, or they
would approach UN for justice.
He also announced a massive protest
demonstration on Sunday (today) outside
the Karachi Press Club. Several political
and religio-political parties, including
MQM, ANP, PTI, MQM-H, JI, ST and MWM
condemned the incident.
