Religious leaders in Pakistan condemn mob violence in Jaranwala

RELIGIOUS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – Religious  leaders in Pakistan have gathered to unite against last week’s mob violence against Christians.

As “Church Times” reported 21 churches and the homes of at least 100 Christian families were burned to the ground in the mob violence.

At a press conference in St John’s Cathedral, Peshawar, on Monday, several Muslim scholars, including Chief Khateeb Maulana Muhamma Tayyab Quraishi, expressed solidarity with the Christian community.

The violence was sparked by allegations of blasphemy against two Christian brothers, after torn pages of the Qur’an were allegedly found with blasphemous content on them near a Christian community in Jaranawala.

On Monday, the caretaker Prime Minister, Anwar ul-Haq Kakar, visited the town and spoke to the Christian community, promising that perpetrators of the attacks would be brought to justice.

Police said that they had arrested 145 suspects, including a cleric who had allegedly called on people to attack Christian homes and churches.

Last Sunday, hundreds of Christians gathered in the destroyed churches for services, where they were guarded by troops.