There are reports and photographs of mob violence against Christians in the Lahore suburb of Sanda in the “Dhoop Sari” (aka “Dhup Sarri”) area. The reports center on the arrest of an alleged mentally ill Christian, Hamayun Faisal Masih, who was burning newspapers “with holy verses” when he was attacked by a mob. According to the Pakistan Daily Times report, “A mob took him to the Gulshan-e-Ravi police station for FIR. The Sanda police never took it serious. After some religious leaders gathered and announced that issue. The angry mob blocked the road protest against Christians and demanding to burn alive the accused. Between 5 and 6 pm a violent mob attacked the area, opened fire, ransacked the Churches, burnt houses and threatened the residents. St. Joseph Church was also vandalized.”

The Pakistan Christian Post expands on this report: “Witnesses claim the local cleric provoked the people in Gulshan Ravi, Sandha and consequently local Muslims gathered around and started throwing stones at the Christian’s houses and local church.”  The Pakistan Christian Congress went to visit the area and found more than 20 Christian homes attacked and damaged.

 

The Pakistan Daily Times also reports that “The local police used tear gas against the mob, some police officials were also injured but the mob, no police official was present to talk about the incident, the Rangers have been deployed to control the situation in the area. ”

The Pakistan Christian Post also reported: “He has been arrested and is in police custody, and it is believed that he has been declared mentally unstable by the hospital.”

Responsible for Equality And Liberty calls for religious freedom, equality, and justice for religious minorities in Pakistan and around the world, in accordance with our universal human rights.