LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Masses of Muslims in jap Pakistan went on a rampage over allegations {that a} Christian guy had desecrated the pages of Islam’s holy e-book, ransacking and burning his space and beating him earlier than cops rescued the person and his father, officers mentioned.
The incident befell Saturday within the Mujahid Colony residential house in Sargodha, a town in Punjab province, mentioned district poIice leader Ijaz Malhi. He mentioned police temporarily answered and stored the lives of the 2 males.
Malhi mentioned the placement used to be below regulate and officials have been investigating the allegations.
The incident introduced again reminiscences of one of the most worst assaults on Christians in Pakistan in August 2023, when offended mobs burned church buildings and attacked dozens in Jaranwala, a district in Punjab province. Muslim citizens claimed they noticed a Christian and his good friend tearing out pages from a Quran and throwing them at the flooring. Nobody used to be killed. In 2009, six Christians have been killed and a few 60 houses burned down within the district of Gojra in Punjab following allegations of insults to Islam.
Malhi mentioned police on Saturday dispersed the crowds and have been additionally searching for lend a hand from non secular students to defuse tensions. The Punjab govt condemned the assault.
The person’s small shoemaking manufacturing unit used to be additionally burned down, Malhi mentioned.
Blasphemy accusations are commonplace in Pakistan.
Underneath the rustic’s blasphemy regulations, any individual discovered responsible of insulting Islam or Islamic non secular figures will also be sentenced to demise. Whilst no person has been completed for blasphemy, incessantly simply an accusation may cause riots and incite mobs to violence, lynching and killings.
apnews.com
