Christians across the country took the streets on Sunday in high tempers to protest the ransacking and arson of over 200 houses in Joseph Colony of Lahore’s Badami Bagh area, ransacking several government installations and scuffling with law enforcement officials as they demanded justice for the victim families.
On the other hand, the Sunni Ittehad Council also issued a fatwa to condemn the incident. A decree by 30 clerics of the SIC said a blasphemer was punishable by death but burning his or her home was un-Islamic.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG-Operations Wing) Rai Tahir Hussain said police had arrested more than 150 suspects in connection with burning Christian homes and shops in the Badami Bagh. But the statement provided no consolation.
One of the main protests on Sunday was staged in Lahore’s Youhana Abad, a teeming Christian residential colony along Ferozepur Road in Lahore.
The protest started peacefully in the morning but soon turned violent when police resorted to baton charge and teargas shelling to disperse the agitated protesters.
The four-kilometre long residential area remained a battleground between police and Christian youth, who demanded end to injustice and discrimination and protection as enshrined in constitution.
A resident, Simon, said they were protesting peacefully but a heavy contingent of police appeared in no time and started shelling the protesters, prompting agitation from the demonstrators.
Sources said more than 500 teargas shells were fired on protesters, who included old men, women and children, as well as on nearby houses.
The protest got further out of hand when a trade union head was arrested by the police while he was trying to negotiate with police officials.
Simon added that the “state is squeezing our living space by the day and not even a single official tried to communicate with us”.
Another protestor said, “Police slapped a protesting boy and arrested him for no reason, which was completely unfair. That made things get out of hand.”
“Minorities in Pakistan are not protected. We always remain under pressure and are treated badly,” he said.
A young protester shouted, “They have no right to manhandle us, police was harassing our protestors, they can do nothing except beat us like animals. What were the police doing in Badami Bagh?”
Saeed Tarar, assistant superintendent of police (ASP), told Pakistan Today that police contingents were just there for protection and trying to appease the protestors.
“But the protestors started destroying the Youhana Abad BRTS station and damaging barriers and other property. About 15 were people arrested who were throwing stones at us and fanning violence.”
“Many policemen were injured badly and the protesters were asked to stop destroying the public properties. We resorted to teargas shelling when our request was disregarded.”
Sources told Pakistan Today that more than 25 people had been arrested in Youhana Abad and 20 in protests in Kot Lakhpat.
They said the Christian protesters also tried to attack the Lahore Railway Station but were thwarted.
Meanwhile, protests in other parts of the country were no less intense.
A protest against Saturday’s mob attack turned violent in Karachi, prompting police to resort to aerial firing and shelling at Fawwara Chowk and Zainab Market.
Christian protesters attacked several shops and vehicles in the Saddar area around Zainab Market, forcing a closure of nearby markets.
Rangers were called in to control the situation and disperse the crowd, while more than 20 people were arrested in this connection.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) also staged a protest to express solidarity with the victims.
In Quetta, dozens of Christian families took out a rally and staged a demonstration outside the Quetta Press Club to condemn the Badami Bagh ransacking and burning of hundred of homes.
The rally was organized by Christian League and Masiah.
The participants also staged a sit-in at GPO Chowk that lasted for a couple of hours.
Speakers including father Maqsood and Shahzad Kundan criticised the Punjab government for not taking timely action against the perpetrators.
Christians of Waris Pura locality in Faisalabad also staged a protest demonstration against the Badami Bagh incident.
They took out a rally that arrived outside Catholic Church on Railway Road after marching through various city roads.
Protests were also staged in Multan, Hyderabad and London besides other cities.
The Human Liberation Commission Pakistan (HLCP) and Masih Millat Party also protested against the arson at Joseph Colony.
President Asif Ali Zardari held a meeting with Punjab Governor Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood in Karachi and discussed the Lahore incident.
He sought a report on the incident and directed him to provide all possible assistance to the affected people.
Minister in-charge for National Harmony Dr Paul Bhatti called upon the Punjab government to carry out a transparent investigation into the Badami Bagh incident for determining the facts.
Dr Paul said a certain mindset was creating such problems in the country, however, there was a strong need for collective efforts to counter such intentions.
