Mob Vandalizes Church in Pakistan’s Faisalabad

Adding to the disturbing series of attacks on religious minorities in Pakistan, another incident has come to light in which a church in the Faisalabad district was vandalised and deliberately set on fire on August 16.

Bishop Azad Marshall, based in Lahore, while talking about the incident, revealed that after a series of blasphemy allegations, the furious mob proceeded to vandalise and destroy a church situated in the Faisalabad district of Punjab province.

He took to X, which was previously known as Twitter, to express his sorrow, stating "Words fail me as I write this. We, Bishops, Priests and lay people are deeply pained and distressed at the Jaranwala incident in the Faisalabad District in Pakistan."

Further expressing his agony, the Bishop went on to say "A church building is being burnt as I type this message. Bibles have been desecrated and Christians have been tortured and harassed, having been falsely accused of violating the Holy Quran."

While conveying his plea for justice and strong measures against those responsible for the assault,  he also requested the safeguarding of the citizens' well-being.  

Bishop Marshall also insisted on being given the reassurance that their lives hold significance within their home country, especially during the time when Pakistan has recently celebrated its freedom and independence.

In the past month, the President of Human Rights Focus Pakistan, Naveed Walter, revealed some disturbing statistics that the population of religious minorities in Pakistan has drastically declined from 23% at the time of its independence in 1947 to a mere 3% at present. 

Walter, who is a human rights activist, highlighted that the introduction of blasphemy laws within the nation has been used as a tool to target these religious minorities. Since the implementation of these laws, several individuals have lost their lives, while many others have been wrongly imprisoned throughout Pakistan.

Recently, in June, a local court's verdict in Bahawalpur created a huge controversy throughout the country. The court sentenced a 22-year-old Christian youth named Noman Masih to death on charges of blasphemy. The decision has triggered strong reactions from various human rights activists and organisations.

This incident has further deepened the already existing concerns about the state of religious freedom and fair justice within Pakistan.

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