President Asif Zardari on Saturday took notice of torching of the houses of Christians by a mob in Badami Bagh Lahore and has called for a report into this unfortunate incident.
President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that the president while expressing grave concern over the incident had directed the authorities concerned to ensure safety and security of lives and property of the citizens.
The president said that safeguarding the rights of all citizens – Muslims and non-Muslims – was one of the main responsibilities of the government and it would continue undertaking every effort for protection of their rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan. He said that such acts of vandalism against minorities tarnish the image of the country.
Zardari directed the authorities concerned that no one should be allowed to take law into his hands and that the law and order should be ensured, the spokesman added.
Separately, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf also took notice of the incident and issued directions for expeditious inquiry of the incident.
The premier issued directions for taking measures to stop recurrence of such incidents in the future. Christians, he said, were equal citizens of the land and should be given complete protection.