Protesters burn church in Mardan in the name of Ishq-e-Rasool

In what appeared to be a bad image of the religion, a furious mob set alight a church along with residential quarters of some Christians in the Cantt area of Mardan on the eve of Youm-e-Ishq-e-Rasool.

Thousands of people took to the streets across the country against the anti-Islam film to mark Love Day for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

DIG Mardan Abdullah while speaking to the media said that protesters were returning from their demonstrations on Mall Road when they entered the Sarhadi Lutheran Church and smashed the furniture inside.

He observed, “They destroyed a small nursery school on its premises too and were trying to set the church on fire when some Christians tried reasoning with them. The angry mob torched the church anyway and leapt into the community residential quarters, setting three of those on fire too.”

Moreover, the protesters, who marched through different roads, culminated on Mall Road, broke into a courier office and stole cash as well.

According to the reports, the angry mob also smashed the gate of the postgraduate college and the windows of a private mobile network company. According to the officials, 50 men had been apprehended on charges of vandalism.

Presiding Bishop of the Church of Pakistan Samuel Azariah Samuel while condemning the attack said, “This news is very damaging to relations between the communities in Pakistan and around the world.”

He further stated, “The government and faith leaders in Pakistan have a role to play in education people that they have the right to protest, but to damage property and terrify people in this way is completely wrong. The government and faith leaders should provide the lead in preventing attacks.”

He further informed that some v500 students were studying at the primary and secondary school of the Lutheran church but the building was empty at the time as it was a holiday in the country.

Leaders of various political parties including PPP, PML-N and PTI condemned the incident, saying the culprits should be brought before justice.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=33021

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Sep 22 2012. Filed under National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.