Four Churches vandalised in Faisalabad over blasphemy allegations

A number of churches were vandalised in the Jaranwala district of Faisalabad on Wednesday over blasphemy allegations, officials said.

Imran Bhatti, the pastor of the Jaranwala tehsil, said that the Salvation Army Church, United Presbyterian Church, Allied Foundation Church and Shehroonwala Church situated in the Isa Nagri area were ransacked.

He added that the house of a Christian cleaner, who was accused of blasphemy, was also demolished.

Meanwhile, Punjab police chief Usman Anwar said the police were negotiating with the protesters and the area had been cordoned off.

Provincial police chief said: “There are narrow lanes [in the area] in which small two to three marla churches are located and there is one main church … they have vandalised portions of the churches.”

The official stated that efforts were under way to contain the situation by engaging with peace committees and police across the province had been activated.

“The assistant commissioner of the area, a member of the Christian community, has also been evacuated after people turned against him,” Anwar added.

However, Christian leaders alleged that the police remained silent spectators.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), 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.