President orders Rs 500,000 to each Christian family

Governor Punjab Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmud on Sunday called on President Asif Zardari at Bilawal House in Karachi and briefed him about the Badami Bagh incident.
Spokesman to the President, Farhatullah Babar said that the governor was especially called by the president to get information about the unfortunate incident where a mob vandalised the Christian houses in Lahore on Saturday.
He said the governor apprised the president about the details of the incidents.
Babar said that during meeting the president advised the prime minister to provide Rs 500,000 compensation each to the affected families.
He advised the Governor to personally monitor the relief and rehabilitation of the affected people. The president also asked him to inform on regular basis about the progress into the investigations of the incident.
President Zardari said that protection of the non-Muslim citizens was as much sacred duty of the government as that of the protection of Muslim citizens. He said that no effort should be spared in safeguarding the rights of non-Muslims as equal citizens of the state.
The president also directed that those involved in the act of vandalism should be brought to justice and the protection and security of the Christians be ensured.
The spokesman said that the president also appealed to the clerics to help the government in bringing to justice all those elements who misused religion. The president said that inter-faith harmony was essential for peace and security in the country and no one would be allowed to take law into his own hands on any pretext.
The president also urged the religious leaders to give suggestions to prevent the misuse of the blasphemy law, the spokesman added.
Separately, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has directed Minister of State for Minorities Affairs Akram Masih Gill and adviser Paul Bhatti to immediately contact the Badami Bagh affectees.
In a telephonic conversation, he said non-Muslims had equal rights similar to Muslims in Pakistan and violence against them was against the Islamic teachings and ethics.
The PM said the government would extend full cooperation in the rehabilitation of Badami Bagh victims. Ashraf said the government would ensure protection of lives and property of non-Muslims.