Condemnations
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) earlier, President Bishop of the Church of Pakistan Azad Marshall said that Bibles had been desecrated and Christians were tortured and harassed “having been falsely accused of violating the Holy Quran”.
“We cry out for justice and action from law enforcement and those who dispense justice and the safety of all citizens to intervene immediately and assure us that our lives are valuable in our own homeland that has just celebrated independence and freedom,” he demanded.
Bishop Marshall added that all priests, bishops and lay people were “deeply pained and distressed” at the incident.
PML-N President and ex-prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a statement, strongly condemned the incident.
He said the Christian community had shed blood and voted for the formation of Pakistan and asserted that their sacrifices should not go in vain. “Strict actions should be taken against those who violated the law,” Shehbaz demanded, stressing that neither Islam nor the Constitution permitted such acts.
He also urged scholars and religious leaders to condemn such incidents, which the former premier stated were against the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah.
Furthermore, Shehbaz directed the Punjab government to take immediate measures and restore the vandalised churches and homes of the Christian community.
“Once again the memory of the May 9 tragedy has become fresh, the head of the nation has bowed in shame,” he added.
Separately in a tweet, Shehbaz asserted that there was no place for violence in any religion. “All religious places, Books and personages are sacred and deserve our highest level of respect,” he said, adding that “such madness cannot be allowed”.
What is happening in Jaranwala is sad and disturbing. There is no place for violence in any religion. All religious places, Holy Books and personages are sacred and deserve our highest level of respect. I urge the government to take action against the culprits. I also appeal to Ulema, Mashaykh and religious scholars from all schools of thought to come forward and condemn the reprehensible actions. Such madness can’t be allowed. Pakistan belongs to all religious minorities.
Former interior minister Rana Sanaullah also condemned the “dastardly attack” and stressed that the culprits should be brought to justice at the earliest.
“Extremism and hatred nullify the fundamental principles of Islam,” he tweeted.
Rana SanaUllah Khan@RanaSanaullahPK
Strongly condemn the dastardly attack on the church in Jaranwala today. The culprits must be brought to justice at the earliest, and the law should take its due course. Extremism and hatred nullify the fundamental principles of Islam.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said he was horrified to hear about today’s attack, asserting that violating the sanctity of worship places was “absolutely unacceptable”.
“The administration must ensure the safety of the Christian community and their churches,” he highlighted.
Horrified to hear about the attack on Churches in Jaranwala, Faisalabad, Violating the sanctity of places of worship is absolutely unacceptable. The administration must ensure the safety of the Christian community and their Churches.
Former information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the incident was a cause of “grief” and “shame for the entire nation”. She urged the Punjab government to take immediate notice of it and “bring those who took the law into their hands to justice”.
The PML-N leader further asked for the local residents to be provided protection and for the restoration of the churches and houses burned to be ensured.
She added that it was “natural for miscreants and rioters to run rampant in a country where incidents such as those of May 9 are praised […]”.
Aurangzeb also expressed her apologies and solidarity with the Pakistani Christian community, stating that “such incidents tarnished Pakistan’s image on the international level”.
PPP leader and ex-climate change minister Sherry Rehman said the incident was “tragic, terrible, reprehensible on so many levels”.
“Pakistan’s non-Muslim citizens are entitled to the same justice, protections and rights we all are.
“Our religion, our constitution finds no space for such violent exclusions and desecrations of what any community holds sacred,” she added.
SenatorSherryRehman
@sherryrehman
This is tragic, terrible, reprehensible on so many levels. Unequivocally condemn this act of violent extremism against a place of worship, a Faisalabad church. Pakistan’s non-Muslim citizens are entitled to the same justice, protections and rights we all are. Our religion, our constitution finds no space for such violent exclusions and desecrations of what any community holds sacred.
Bishop Azad Marshall@BishopAzadM
Words fail me as I write this. We, Bishops, Priests and lay people are deeply pained and distressed at the Jaranwala incident in the Faisalabad District in Pakistan. A church building is being burnt as I type this message. Bibles have been desecrated and Christians have been.
In its condemnation, the PTI expressed regret over the attack on minorities and held the administration, “state machinery” and police responsible for the incident.
“The basic duty of the state is to protect the safety of life and property of citizens without discrimination of colour, race, sex and religion,” it said and demanded that the Punjab government investigate the events from all aspects.
جڑانوالہ میں مسیحی عبادت گاہ پر حملے اورعلاقے میں بڑھتی ہوئی کشیدگی کے تدارک کا معاملہ پاکستان تحریک انصاف کی جانب سے جڑانوالہ میں پیش آنے والے واقعات پر نہایت تشویش اور افسوس کا اظہار مقامی انتظامیہ ، پولیس اور حکومتی مشینری کیجانب سے امنِ عامہ کی صورتحال بررقرار رکھنے میں ناکامی کی شدید مذمت نہایت حساس نوعیت کے معاملے پر ریاستی و حکومتی مشینری کی مجرمانہ ناکامی قابلِ مذمت ہے، رنگ ، نسل، جنس، مذہب کے امتیاز کے بغیر شہریوں کے جان و مال کی سلامتی کا تحفظ ریاست کا بنیادی فریضہ ہے، اسلام امن و آشتی کا دین، دستور اقلیتوں کے حقوق اور مذہبی آزادیوں کا ضامن ہے، تخلیقِ پاکستان سے تعمیرِ پاکستان تک کے ہر مرحلے میں ہماری اقلیتوں نے نہایت گراں قدر خدمات سر انجام دی ہیں، ریاستی مشینری کی جانب سے دستور سے انحراف شہریوں کے مابین لاقانونیت اور نظامِ عدل کی بےتوقیری کی صورت میں ظاہر ہو رہاہے، پنجاب کی نالائق اور نااہل حکومت جڑانوالہ میں پیش آنے والے واقعات کی تمام پہلوؤں سے تحقیق کرے اور پُر تشدد کارروائیوں کے ذمہ دار عناصر کے خلاف قانون کو حرکت میں لائے- ترجمان تحریک انصاف
Former senator Afrasiab Khattak condemned the incident and demanded that the culprits should be brought to book.
“Pakistani state has failed to provide security to the worship places of people who follow religions other than Islam. Impunity to the crimes committed in the name of religion has emboldened extremists and terrorists,” he added.
Afrasiab Khattak@a_siabThis is condemnable. Pakistani state has failed to provide security to the worship places of people who follow religions other than Islam. Impunity to the crimes committed in the name of religion has emboldened extremists and terrorists. Bring the culprits to book.
Balochistan Senator Sarfaraz Bughti also called on the Punjab government to enforce its full might to protect churches and Christian hope.
“We, as Pakistani, can’t allow the madness happening in Jaranwala,” he said on X. “We have a responsibility toward the minorities in our country, and we couldn’t let the crisis worsen any further!” Bughti added.
Senator Sarfraz Bugti@PakSarfrazbugti
We as a Pakistani can’t allow the madness happening in Jaranwala. Punjab Govermnet should enforce its full might to protect the Christian churches and homes. We have a responsibility toward the minorities in our country, and we couldn’t let the crisis worsen any further! #Faisalabad
Former human rights minister and ex-PTI leader Shireen Mazari termed the incident “absolutely shameful and condemnable”.
Shireen Mazari@ShireenMazari1
Absolutely shameful & condemnable. Where are the law enforcers to protect our Christian community and their churches?
Journalist Hamid Mir called the attack a violation of Islamic teachings.
Hamid Mir حامد میر@HamidMirPAK
I am also crying. This attack on a Church is a violation of Islamic teachings. #CryWithUs
blasphemous book.
Most recently, the Senate passed a bill to increase the punishment for using derogatory remarks against revered personalities — including the Holy Prophet’s (Peace Be Upon Him) family, wives and companions, and the four caliphs — from three years of imprisonment to at least 10 years in jail.
However, the law came under criticism from the PPP. The party’s human rights cell noted that blasphemy in any form of any religion could not be condoned and must be punished. It was also noted that the intentions behind the bill were questionable which, it feared, would only promote sectarianism and intolerance in the country.
Activist and lawyer Jibran Nasir criticised the incident, stating that what occurred in Jaranwala went beyond being a mere cause for sorrow; it was “a reason for national shame.”
M. Jibran Nasir @MJibranNasir
اگر ہر ظلم، جبر، استحصال اور ناانصافی سہہ کر بھی اس ملک میں بطور امن پسند شہری رہنا، قانون کی پاسداری کرنا اور 14 اگست کو پاکستان کا جھنڈا لہرانا حب الوطنی ہے تو اس اسلامی جمہوریہ پاکستان میں غیر مسلمان پاکستانیوں سے زیادہ محب وطن کوئی نہیں ہے۔ #جڑانوالہ میں آج جو ہوا وہ من حیث القوم ہمارے لئے صرف دکھ کی بات نہیں بلکہ شرم کا مقام ہے۔
Responding to PM Kakar’s condemnation, Nasir pointed out that an entire community had been “terrorised” today, with no available elected representatives at local, provincial, or national levels for people to approach and voice their concerns.
M. Jibran Nasir @MJibranNasir
This should only stress upon you the need to hold timely elections within 3 months and ensure efficient and smooth transition of power back to the people. This should also make crystal clear to you the need to allow all political parties who represent aspirations of the people to freely contest elections without facing any unlawful or constitutional pressures. An entire community terrorized today and not a single elected representative in Punjab at local, provincial and national level whom the people can access and communicate their grievances to. Representatives do not only provide comfort to their Constituents but also use their power to ensure safety and justice as they are accountable to the people for their votes. Denying the provinces and country elections and now not allowing people to elect candidates of their choice to Parliament will slowly but surely breakdown our entire social fabric.
Emphasising the necessity of timely elections, Nasir highlighted that elected representatives not only offer solace to their constituents but also wield their authority to ensure safety and justice, being accountable to the people for their votes.
Anwaar ul Haq Kakar@anwaar_kakar
I am gutted by the visuals coming out of Jaranwala,#Faisalabad. Stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities. All law enforcement has been asked to apprehend culprits and bring them to justice. Rest assured that the government of Pakistan stands with our citizenry on equal basis.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) maintained that the “mob-led assault on Christian families, their homes and sites of worship in Jaranwala” must be condemned in “no uncertain terms”.
“The frequency and scale of such attacks — which are systematic, violent and often uncontainable — appear to have increased in recent years. Not only has the state failed to protect its religious minorities, but it has also allowed the far right to permeate and fester within society and politics,” it highlighted.
HRCP demanded that the perpetrators and instigators of the violence should be identified and punished to the “full extent of the law”.
“The government must waste no time in raising and equipping special police forces to protect religious minorities’ sites of worship,” it added.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
@HRCP87
The mob-led assault on Christian families and their homes and sites of worship in #Jaranwala, Faisalabad, following allegations of blasphemy, must be condemned in no uncertain terms. The frequency and scale of such attacks—which are systematic, violent and often uncontainable—
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan@HRCP87
… appear to have increased in recent years. Not only has the state failed to protect its religious minorities, but it has also allowed the far right to permeate and fester within society and politics. Both the perpetrators and instigators of this violence…
Amnesty International further conveyed its distress over the incident, expressing, “We are extremely concerned at the reports of arson and attacks on at least five churches and multiple Christian homes in Jaranwala following blasphemy accusations against two Christian men.”
Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office@amnestysasia
Pakistan: Amnesty International is extremely concerned at the reports of arson and attacks on at least five churches and multiple Christian homes in Jaranwala following blasphemy accusations against two Christian men.
Amnesty highlighted that blasphemy laws “contravene the right to life, freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, as well as the liberty of opinion and expression.”
It stressed that these laws should not serve as tools to target and defame individuals, inflict significant property damage, or displace entire communities.
Pakistan has a history of vigilante mob violence following accusations of blasphemy. Instead of repealing problematic blasphemy laws or amending them to stop their misuse, authorities have have instead strengthened them by increasing the punishment.
Pakistan has a history of vigilante mob violence following accusations of blasphemy. Instead of repealing problematic blasphemy laws or amending them to stop their misuse, authorities have have instead strengthened them by increasing the punishment.
Separately, a joint statement issued by the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) and International Interfaith Harmony Council (IIHC) quoted PUC Chairman Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi as saying that religious leaders actively engaged with the community to stabilise the situation and foster an environment of understanding.
“The leadership of PUC and IIHC underscored the shared responsibility of safeguarding worship places and residences of all communities,” the statement added.
1-Header image: Multiple churches in Faisalabad’s Jaranwala were vandalised on Wednesday. — Photo by author
