40 women among 500 booked for attacking Christian man, property

SARGODHA/ISLAMABAD: A day after a Christian man was assaulted by an angry mob over alleged blasphemy here police on Sunday registered a case against 500 unidentified individuals, including 40 women.

The incident occurred in Mujahid Colony where a charged mob entered a house, thrashed its owner and vandalised belongings over alleged blasphemy. The enraged mob also set fire to a shoe factory built inside the house and damaged electric installations. The police had transported the injured man by ambulance to an undisclosed location.

According to police officials, the FIR registered includes sections related to rioting vandalism and terrorism. They mentioned that 40 unidentified women were also booked.

Details indicate that 28 people have been arrested so far on charges of rioting, vandalism and arson involving the house and factory inside it.

Police authorities stated that the primary suspect involved in the incident had already been arrested and a case had been filed against him. Security has been heightened across the entire Sargodha district with additional police deployments. Police officers are stationed outside churches while in Mujahid Colony a strong police presence is being maintained.

Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad visited Sargodha on Sunday and said that Islam teaches only peace and harmony in society.

Addressing a press conference at deputy commissioner’s office here, he regretted the Mujahid Colony incident and said that Islam, first of all, respects humanity and advocates religious harmony among all religious factions. He said Sargodha is a district of peacelovers and hoped that no such incident would occur in future.

Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shah, speaking at the press conference, said Pakistan belongs to everyone who sacrificed their lives for its protection. “We have to take this country forward and get it out of all crises,” he added.

In a statement on Sunday, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain condemned the allegations and the subsequent disorder, underscoring the importance of adhering to the rule of law and maintaining peace.

“The reaction of Punjab Police and other law enforcement agencies in promptly addressing the situation is commendable,” Salik said emphasizing that reacting impulsively to rumours is contrary to the teachings of religion, which advocate for patience and due process.

He reminded the citizens that Pakistan has established legal procedures to handle accusations of blasphemy and acts of hatred. He issued a stern warning to those taking the law into their own hands, noting that such actions would entail legal consequences.

Reiterating the state’s commitment to safeguarding all citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs, he highlighted that the Constitution of Pakistan and the principles set by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah serve as guiding lights for the nation. The minister also acknowledged the significant contributions of religious leaders in fostering societal harmony and called for unity to counteract any attempts to incite hatred or religious intolerance. He urged citizens to be vigilant against efforts to defame Pakistan through social media, advocating for a collective effort to maintain national peace and cohesion.