Pakistan ordered ‘High-level’ inquiry into vandalism of churches

On 16 August, a mob reportedly burnt down several churches and vandalised many homes of Christians. After this incident took place, the government ordered a “high-level” inquiry.

The mob made its way through a predominately Christian area situated on the outskirts of the industrial city of Faisalabad after several allegations about the Holy Quran being desecrated were made.

A spokesperson for the provincial government said, “This was a well-thought-out plan to disrupt peace and a high-level investigation is underway regarding the desecration of the Holy Quran and incidents that take place afterwards.”

The spokesperson added that the police “foiled” the information to attack the homes of the minorities and that the “peace committee” was moved to make sure that similar attempts are stopped.

Human Rights Commission in Pakistan took to their social media handle to talk about the incident, they posted on X, formerly Twitter, “The mob-led assault on Christian families and their homes and sites of worship in #Jaranwala, Faisalabad, following allegations of blasphemy, must be condemned in no uncertain terms. The frequency and scale of such attacks—which are systematic, violent and often uncontainable.”

The Commission further added, “… appear to have increased in recent years. Not only has the state failed to protect its religious minorities, but it has also allowed the far right to permeate and fester within society and politics. Both the perpetrators and instigators of this violence…”

Over the several past decades, minorities in Pakistan have went through a chains of persecution and targeted attacks.