Liaquat Baloch visits Youhanabad churches

LAHORE: JI secretary general Liaqat Baloch condemned suicide attacks at Youhanabad churches and termed the assaults a conspiracy to create religious divisions in the country.
He was talking to the media during a visit to Saint John Catholic and Christ Churches at Youhanabad on Tuesday. Liaqat Baloch also met with Father Francis Gulzar. Dr Farid Ahmed Piracha, minority leaders Shahid Gulzar, MPA Shakil and Pastor Shakir were with him.
Liaqat Baloch said enemies of Christians and Muslims were the enemy of Pakistan while peace and co-existence were common objectives of the two communities. Liaqat Baloch said lynching of two innocent Muslims after the church attacks was a gruesome act and the government must arrest the killers and punish them. He said the families of the culprits should not be harassed.
Punjab CM should constitute Joint Investigation Team (JIT) and a monitoring team for the purpose, he said, adding terrorists were targeting mosques, imambargahs, tombs, schools and security forces and institutions but the morale of the nation remained high. He said the nation would defeat the enemy through unity and unanimity.
To a question about the Gulf situation, Liaqat Baloch said Pakistan and Turkey could play a mediatory role between Saudi Arabia and Yemen and bring Riyadh and Tehran closer. He added protection of Saudi Arabia’s solidarity and the sanctity of Haramain Sharifain was the duty of the Muslim World.
Father Francs Gulzar said the visit of JI leaders had given new courage to the Christian community at Youhanabad. He said those responsible for burning two Muslims to death must be punished but innocent people should not be targeted.