August 7, 2009
LAHORE, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Some 3,000 Christian residents of Yohannabad on Wednesday (August 5) took out a protest rally under the aegis of Pakistan Christian National Party (PCNP) to condemn Muslim violence against Christians in Gojra on August 1 in which some eight Christians were killed.
Yohannabad, the largest colony in Asia is home to some 35,000 Christian families.
Angry participants of the rally, who were holding black flags shouted slogans against government and demanded arrests of culprits behind Gojra violence within a week. They also set tires to fire and blocked the road.
The speakers at the meeting demanded of the government to ensure protection of lives and properties of Christians of Pakistan. They said that the peace-loving and patriotic Christian residents of the country have same rights as Muslim citizens.
Addressing the rally Chairman PCNP, Mr. Joseph Francis demanded that all people accused of blasphemy should be bailed out and “false” and “baseless” cases against them be quashed.
Mr. Francis condemned Gojra violence and urged people to pray for victims’ families and Christians of Gojra.
As PCNP spokesperson, Mr. Sohail Johnson told ANS that PCNP activists had also staged protest demonstration in Karachi.
PCNP had decided to observe August 11 as “Black Day.” He said a rally would be taken out on August 11 from High Court Lahore to Punjab Assembly.
Mr. Johnson feared that if extremist militants were not curbed they would start committing Gojra-like violence against Christians across Pakistan.
“In that case it would not only leave minorities more insecure but would bring a bad name to country as well,” feared Johnson.
Johnson apprehended that If Pakistani Christians continued to suffer violence at the hands of extremists and miscreants then they at some point would start hating Pakistan.
“Increasing violence, discrimination and injustice against Christians will breed rebellion among them,” Johnson remarked.
He called for media trial of the Gojra incident and demanded of the government to set an example by meting out exemplary punishment to the perpetrators of Gojra violence.
Mr. Johnson urged prospective donor individuals and funding organizations to give their donations to the Release International, UK and HMK Germany “so that these funds could be used for rehabilitation of affected Christians of Gojra.”
He urged Christians of Pakistan to come forward and play their role in rehabilitation of Gojra victims.
He appealed to the Christians across Pakistan to give sacrifice of their money, time and talents to restore and rehabilitate affected Christians of Gojra.
Terming Gojra violence as the fifth biggest incident of violence against Pakistani Christians in 2009, Mr. Johnson said that Pakistani Christians should stand by their brethren who suffered worst kind of violence.
Criticizing semi-literate Muslim clerics, he said they were propagating religious intolerance in the country through hate preaching. He called for appointment of educated clerics in mosques.
He flayed police and district administration Gojra for their negligence. “Did the officials at the nearby police station not hear inflammatory speeches of clerics? Why did police not take timely action to stop them," Johnson argued.
Mr. Johnson said that Islam does not advocate killings of innocent people. “Islam does not teach burning people to death. It rather teaches its followers to live in peace and harmony,” he said.
He said the law enforcement agencies should stop Muslim clerics to make speeches against Christians and people of other religions during their Friday sermons.
The Muslim clerics, he said, make hate speeches on design to earn “cheap popularity.”
“Do these extremists want to create Orissa-like situation for Pakistani Christians?” he asked.
If government wants to avert such an eventuality then it would have to take stringent measures aimed at protecting lives and properties of Pakistani Christians, he warned.
Mr. Johnson called for measures aimed at reigning in hardline Muslim clerics, extremists and fundamentalists. He feared that Pakistan’s image in the comity of the nations would be further damaged if extremist elements in the country were not bridled.
Hailing Pakistani Christians’ contribution in the creation and development of Pakistan, Mr. Johnson said that Pakistani Christians have played a vital role in the fields of education and medical.
“Today were are forced to observe August 11 as Black Day because minorities are being subjected to violence and attacks.”
Copyright 2009 ASSIST News Service. Used by permission. All right reserved.
