Chief Justice Says Police Failed to Protect the 'Property and Dignity' of Christians in Joseph Colony

Justice Gulzar Ahmad, said the incident has caused an element of trauma that will keep on lingering in the minds of minority Christians living across Pakistan.

Christian home in Joseph Colony after attack.

(ISLAMABAD) - On Monday, the Supreme Court's three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry declared that police had failed to protect the property and dignity of the Christians of the Joseph Colony, Lahore although no loss of life was involved in the incident.

A three member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, heard the case over the arson attack on the Christians of Joseph Colony, Badami Bagh, Lahore. The Chief Justice (CJ) said Punjab Police had failed to conduct an honest, thorough investigation into the Badami Bagh incident in which over 178 houses were ransacked and set alight by a charged mob over an alleged blasphemy incident.

The court adjourned the hearing until March 25, 2013 on the assurance of new CCPO Lahore Muhammad Amlish, who vowed before the bench that he would dig up the truth. Earlier, the court rejected the report on the incident.

This the very first time in Pakistani history that the Supreme Court expressed deep frustration and anguish, the CJ expressed the intention to take over the investigation. The CJ was shocked and remarked over the contents of the FIR (First Information Report) read out by the SSP investigation, he said, "...it seems that the courts will have to take charge of investigation too."

Justice Gulzar Ahmad, said the incident has caused an element of trauma that will keep on lingering in the minds of minority Christians living across Pakistan.

Few of the human rights activists including Basharat Khokhar and Joseph Francis, were present in the court today. J Salik, ex-federal minister, showed his sympathy by attending today’s court proceeding.

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