SC rejects Punjab govt report on Jaranwala incident

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the report submitted by the Punjab government regarding the incident of burning the places of worship of the minority community in Jaranwala.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarat Hilali heard the case related to the rights of minorities as well as the incident of Jarnawala.

A violent mob of hundreds ransacked and torched nearly two dozen churches on August 16, 2023, attacked the residences of the Christian community in Faisalabad’s Janrawala town following an alleged incident of blasphemy. Soon after the incident, Justice Qazi Faiz Isa who was the Chief Justice designate at that time visited the neighbourhood to meet and express solidarity with the Christian community.

The Supreme Court rejected the report submitted by the Punjab government. Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa remarked that the report is worth throwing in the trash. He observed that the police saw everything burning adding they stood and watched. “It is a shame for me as a citizen that the most cases of blasphemy in the whole world are reported in Pakistan,” the CJP remarked adding that some people have made it a business. The court declared that to eliminate violence, terrorism, religious sectarianism and hatred, the government and especially the media should play a role, and make the media a part of broadcasting special messages related to religious harmony under section 20 of the PEMRA Ordinance. The court noted that the Punjab Police know the real characters of the Jaranwala incident but they are showing weakness and cowardice. The court noted down in its order that by not stopping the attackers, the police lost public trust in themselves.

The Chief Justice asked Additional Advocate General Punjab how many people involved in the incident have been caught so far. Additional Advocate General Punjab told the court that 22 cases were registered, 304 people were arrested, and 18 out of 22 FIRs challan were collected. Ma’shallah only 18 challans were collected in six months”, the CJP remarked adding that while going to other places, they rant about Islamophobia and what are they doing themselves. Whether they want to copy the treatment of non-Muslims in India? the chief justice questioned and asked about the time when the first was torched. SP Investigation Faisalabad told the court that the desecration of the Holy Quran happened at 5:15 am. At this, the CJP said that the police saw everything burning in front of their eyes. Whether the police in Pakistan is only for the protection of Muslims?, the CJP questioned. When Samuel Pyara, a Christian community leader told the court on video link the affiliation of the people involved in the Jaranwala incident was with Tehreek Labeek, the Chief Justice said that these were the same people who were protesting in Faizabad adding that the state was standing with them but now they have become angry. If you don’t have the courage, then we will give notice to Tehreek Labeek and they will accept it themselves”, the CJP told the Punjab law officer.

Later, the court sought a fresh report from the Punjab government on the Janrawala incident and issued a notice to the Pakistan Broadcasters Association and PEMRA. The Supreme Court also issued notice to the federal government and all the provincial governments. The court held that if the Punjab police could not give an adequate report on the investigation of the Jaranwala incident, the relevant police officers would be suspended or dismissed. The court directed that the report on the Jaranwala incident should be submitted within 10 days while the report regarding the details of the places of worship of other minorities should be submitted in two months. The court observed that attacks like the Jaranwala incident happen due to lack of education, hatred and misuse of religion.

Earlier, Chief Justice asked Muhammad Ikram Chaudhry, counsel for Evacuee Trust Property Board to many Gurdwaras there are in the country? The learned counsel replied that the current case is about six Gurdwaras adding that the details of the whole country have been submitted in the previous hearings.”Why do you want to hide the facts and why is the truth being prevented from coming to the public?, the Chief Justice asked the counsel. Ikram Chaudhry, however, replied that all the facts had been given to the court.

Meanwhile, the court called the chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board to rostrum who told the court that there are 19 Gurdwaras active across the country. The Chief Justice then asked as to why they had not put the details and pictures of all Gurdwaras on the website. The court then directed to release the complete details including the photos of all the Gurdwaras and temples and put it on the website. Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing for date-in-office.