Reemergence of violence against Christians in Pakistan
Attack on Christian Settlements at Korian and Gojra, District Toba Tek Singh
On the night of 30th July 2009, a mob attacked Christian community after the accusation of blasphemy by Mukhtar Masih, Talib Masih and his son Imran Masih of village Korian (7km from Gojra), District Toba Tek Singh. During the violent attack looted their belongings, armed mob torched 57 homes of Christians, including the churches and religious articles. On 1st August 2009, a mob (about 1500 Muslims) attacked Christian Colony in Gojra city in reaction to alleged desecration of the Holy Quran in Korian Village. They killed 7 Christians including three women and two children, looted their belongings and burnt down 68 houses.
Detail:
On 24th July 2009, there was a marriage ceremony (Mehndi Function) of a Christian in village Korian Chak 362 J/B, Tehsil Gojra, District Toba Tek Singh in Punjab province. During the ceremony, some children were throwing papers in the air for celebration. Some Muslims collected papers and accused three Christians Mukhtar Masih, Talib Masih and his son Imran Masih of tearing the papers inscribed with Holy Quran verses at a wedding ceremony.
On 25th July 2009, a meeting (Muslim and Christian elders) called Talib Masih to offer apology over the incident and the issue was resolved with the apology of Talib Masih over the desecration issue. However on 30th July 2009 in the evening -at 6:00 p.m., announcements on loudspeakers from the mosques of Korian and nearby villages started inciting Muslims to attack Christian community for protecting accused of blasphemy. After the announcements, most of Christian families fled from their homes for safety.
At 8:00 p.m., a large Muslim mob assembled, they chanted slogans against Christians and blocked Gojra-Faisalabad Road to stop rescue activity. Armed mob attacked houses belonging to Christians, 57 houses were reduced to ashes, their belongings were looted (cattle, T.V., bicycles etc.). The assailants also desecrated two churches and religious books.
On 31st July 2009, a case was registered (FIR No: 429, u/s 148/149/153-A/295/380/436 PPC 7ATA) against 21 nominated persons and hundred of unidentified people, who burnt 57 houses and looted their belongings.
In the evening of 31st July 2009, Ulema announced from the mosques to observe a strike against the incident of desecration of Quran by Christians, and asked Muslims to assemble together at Malkanwala Chowk in Gojra. On 1st August 2009, at 9:00 a.m. local Muslim Ulema along with Anjuman-e-Tajiran took out a procession against the supposed desecration and arrived near Christian colony. The protesters started pelting Christians with rocks and set the house of a Riaz Masih on fire. Then, Christians retaliated with rocks and opened fires to disperse the enraged Muslim mob and to stop entrance of mob in the Christian locality to avoid the loss of lives and properties, which injured few Muslim protesters. During this incident, many Christian families fled the colony for saving their lives, but some of them locked themselves at their homes.
At 2:00 p.m., some armed and masked men (belonging to a banned religious organization Sipah-i-Sahaba) led the mob. The policemen present there did not try to control the mob and protesters entered the Christian locality. They attacked Christian colony, set ablaze 68 houses of Christians, burnt six Christians alive and killed Hameed Masih with gun shot, looted their belongings (cash, gold jewelry, T.V, air condition, computer etc.) and ransacked two churches.
The dead were identified as Hameed Masih (75) s/o Punno Masih, Akhlas (40) s/o Hameed Masih, Asiya Bibi (22) w/o Mohsin Masih, Asifa Bibi (30) w/o Almas Masih, Umia Bibi (10) d/o Almas Masih, Musa (7) s/o Almas Masih and Parveen Bibi (50) w/o Victor Masih.
On 2nd August 2009, local Christians, relatives of victims from Punjab province, Christian religious & political leaders and human rights activists blocked the Multan-Faisalabad railway track and traffic for several hours from 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. by placing the coffins of the killed people on the railway track. They protested against attackers and demanded F.I.R against them for brutal killing of Christians and torching of their houses.
The protest ended only when a case was registered (FIR No: 462, u/s 302/148, 324/149, 436/295, 380 PPC 7ATA) against 17 nominated persons and 800 unidentified people, for burning 68 houses and killing 7 Christians. Later, the funeral took place in the Catholic Church, Gojra and the bodies were laid to rest in a local cemetery.
Situational analysis:
Pakistan is passing through a very critical period, especially concerning its war against extremism. There is a military action continuing in North Western Frontier Province and its tribal area (Swat, Malakand, South Wazirastan and Bannu district). Although some of the Internal Displaced Persons have started returning back to their homes in Swat, the operation has brought little gains in rooting out the menace of religious extremism. This is why the military operations was extended unannounced in the areas of Khyber and Karam agency areas.
The approach being used by the Pakistan establishment has two flows; first that it is area focused whereas terrorism is not bound by administrative boundaries. The militant groups have their recruiting centers, their economic and financial supports is wide spread, in all provinces especially parts of Punjab both in north and south. Where big militant groups and banned outfits who were major players in war and militancy in Afghanistan and Kashmir. The militant out fits have their support among the religio - political parties moreover there are groups specializing in hate campaign against other religions and sects who cultivate sentiments congenial to extremism. These groups also engage in evangelizing non-muslims citizens, and create ‘born again Muslims’ even using indecent means inimical to cultural and social activity, segregation and subjugation of women and religious minorities. Thus an area focused approach is bound to have limitations.
Second flow in the approach concerns with limited focus on the remedial measures. Extremism has its roots in the model of the state and religiously discriminatory policies. The establishment and the elected governments have failed to changed laws such as blasphemy (Sections 295 B, C and 298 A, B, and C of Pakistan Penal Code) that provide severe punishments for ‘offenses’ of offering insult to holy personage, the book and prophet of Islam. The government of Pakistan has to think beyond military solution – the situation requires an overhauling of the entire state system – a socio political reforms package.
The violent attacks that started in March 2009 suggest that militants have changed their strategy after the military operations. Different Taliban out fits started charging heavy amounts of Jazia or tax from non Muslims in parts under their influence in NWFP. Memebers of Sikh, Hindu and Christian communities were kidnapped for ransom and charges amounts for their release.
The killing and carnage of Gojra is not a solitary incident but a phenomenon that has been there for quite some time. In March 2009 a women lost her life in Gujranwala after an attack on Church. In April the attack on a Church and Christian settlement in Taiser Town, Karachi one youth was killed and several were injured by firing. In June 57 houses were destroyed in Kasur, a town 40 kilometer south of Lahore.
Besides that police and administration failed to act in every incident of attack on Christians despite prior notice of tensions and rumors, it is also a trend that the culprits were never brought to justice after massive violent attacks inflicted on minorities at Shantinagar (1997), Sangla Hills (2005) Sukkar (2006) and other places.
The effects of section 295 B and C, PPC on the society have not been given full consideration. The incidents over past 20 years have shown that Muslims have become also victims of these laws and suffered on unsubstantiated charges, therefore the situation demands a serious and long term remedy.
It is time that the Federal government must seriously consider repealing the blasphemy laws that is an instrument of creating hatred, abuse of religion and law whereas the provincial government should prove its mantle in enforcing law and order and rooting out religious extremism. It is well known fact that the militant outfits have their bases in Punjab and they are equally dangerous as in other parts of the country. Therefore a comprehensive policy and strategy has to be formed by the Punjab government to eliminate hate speech through bill boards, wall chalking, printed materials and speeches against other religions and sects.
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