Several Christian churches were vandalised and members of the community were targeted in Pakistan during riots over alleged blasphemy on Wednesday.
More than 100 people have been arrested for their involvement in riots in Faisalabad’s Jaranwala in the Punjab Province so far, media reports said.
In a statement, Punjab government spokesperson said that the provincial government has also ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.
Interim Punjab Information Minister Amir Mir said that “dozens of people who disturbed peace” in the area were detained, Geo TV reported.
In a statement, the minister said that the violence in Jaranwala was done under a “well-thought-out conspiracy”.
“There was a plan to disturb the peace by inciting public sentiments. After the desecration of the Holy Quran, the angry protesters reacted strongly,” Mir said, adding that the situation in Faisalabad is fully under control now.
The minister also said the security of churches has been tightened and a large number of law enforcers have been deployed.
Earlier on Wednesday, a crowd vandalised several churches and set scores of houses on fire after accusing the Christian community of its members over alleged blasphemy.
A mob had attacked the community after two Christians were accused of blasphemy, Geo TV report said, citing a local police official.
The local administration has called in paramilitary troops to handle the violent crowd and bring the situation under control, according to a government order seen by Reuters.
A Christian leader, Akmal Bhatti, said the crowd had torched at least five churches and looted valuables from houses that had been abandoned by their owners after clerics made announcements in mosques inciting the mob. Several social media posts showed some churches on fire as well as houses and belongings.
Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif have condemned the incident.
Follow us on
