Another Attack On Pakistani Christians

Pakistani Christians are under third attack within 48 days.

Sunset on Pakistan's Khanewal-Multan Highway. Photo: Flickr

(ISLAMABAD) - Another Christian community in Pakistan was attacked by an angry Muslim mob on 26th April 2013, it happened in a village near Khanewal, Multan (southern Punjab). A similar situation recently developed in Joseph Colony, Lahore, where Christian families were forced to evacuate their village after angry Muslims threatened to burn it down.

A third attack against Pakistani Christians was waged on March 9, 2013. Houses in the Joseph Colony were burned down and property was destroyed; on April 3, 2013, Christians of Francis Abad, Gujranwala were attacked in their village. It is another episode of the sort of sectarian violence eating away at the Pakistani state.

According to Joseph Francis, chief of CLAAS (The Centre for Legal Aid Assistance & Settlement), Pakistani Christian villages have turned into battlefields where armed groups are seen exchanging gunfire with each other. The recent episode left one dead and two injured.

Personal rivalry turned to religious violence, when the angry Muslim mob attacked Christians houses, they exchanged gunfire. Injured were taken to the hospital and police reached the spot immediately to control the situation. CLAAS teams have begin their journey to the village, added CLASS's chief.

Lazarus Allah Rakha and Rana Adnan, representatives of World Vision in Progress, say the gunfire exchange started when Christians were attacked and one of them named Samuel was seriously injured and taken to the hospital.

Angry Christian families started firing back, which resulted in one death and one injury. A First Investigation Report (FIR) has been registered against the culprits in the local police station, Kacha Khooh, Khaniwal. Mohammad Yousaf died on the spot and a FIR is registered against Albert s/o Nathaniel, Samuel s/o Albert, Amir s/o David, and Asif s/o Emmanuel, added WVIP representatives. More than 20 people were arrested from both parties, Lazarus added.

As I am writing the story, police and rangers have taken control of the villages to avoid the serious consequence, realizing the sensitivity of the matter.

About Shamim Masih

"I am Christian rights activist and freelancer Pakistani journalist specializing in writing about Christians rights for the different papers in the world. My aim is to create a peaceful environment in the society and to help eliminate Christian persecution through my writing as I bring the plight of these brave people under the spotlight of the whole world."

Shamim Masih was born in Sheikhopura's village and raised in Gujranwala, a city in Pakistan's Punjab province. He earned his Bachelors Degree from the University of the Punjab, Lahore majoring in English, Economics and Statistics; he also received a Masters Degree in Business Administration

As a freelance writer and author, Shamim has written for different papers in the world; his expertise is in writing articles highlighting different social issues. He has served as freelance chief reporter and column writer in “Minority Times” in Islamabad, and a number of Shamim's articles have been published in local papers as well.

You can write to Shamim at this address: shamimpakistan@gmail.com