JARANWALA: August 18, 2023: The state’s sharp reaction to Jaranwala incident and timely action of the law enforcing agencies forced the charged crowd here on Friday from creating more rukus in the city over alleged desecration of holy Quran.
The government had sprung into action after violent protests last week in Jaranwala and it deployed the Rangers to support the police whose heavy contingent remained guard to stop religious fanatics to again attack the house of Christians and Churches to fan religious extremism in the city and there were apprehensions that the violent protest, if erupted after Jumma prayers, could later expand to other parts of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s political and military leadership had given a clear message in the wake of violence in connection with Jaranwala incident that the attacks on the Christians to settle score by the unruly crowds was unacceptable. Caretaker prime minister, Anwaarul Haq Kakar, and army chief , Syed Asim Munir, had issued statements on Thursday that the state will not allow religious extremists to attack minorities and those who will be found in such act will be dealt with iron hands. Caretaker chief minister Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi, and IGP , Dr Usman Anwar, had also done a good job to take prompt actions to stop spreading of violence in Jaranwala in the wake of alleged desecration incident.
The local administration applied two –tier security to tackle with any untoward situation in the wake of Tuesday’s violent protests.
Following an incident of alleged desecration by some Christians, a charged crowed had attacked Christians’ houses in Jarawnala, besides vandalising half a dozen Churches in the city.
There were apprehensions that the riots could revisit Jarawala again on Friday when the religious clerics could issue fiery speeches and provoke the worshipers for violent protests over alleged desecration by the Christians in the city.
According to Amir Sohail, special correspondent of NEWSMAN who visited Jaranwala city where riots occurred last week in the wake of alleged desecration of holy Quran, along with a group of human right activists to monitor the situation in the affected part of the city and collect the facts and figures of the incident. Amir Sohail and other member of the activists group also spoke to the affected Christian families who fled Eisa colony and Chamra Mandi area of Jawarnwala following attacks of violent protests on their houses and Churches.
Amir Sohail reported from the scene that tense calm prevailed in affected areas of Jaranwala city as the police and Rangers’ heavy deployment has cordoned-off the affected areas for the last two days and normal business of the city is on hold due to imposition of Section 144 for a week. He also reported that a number of small processions had tried to reach to the areas where Christians live in the city to regenerate violent protests, but the police and Rangers 2-tier security repelled the crowds to protect the Christians from any violence.
Earlier reports
The fire that engulfed Eisa colony and ‘Chamra’ colony in Jaranwala over alleged incident of desecration of holy Quran is feared to spread across Pakistan. Fearing violent protests across Pakistan over Jaranwala incident of alleged desecration, the entire administration across Pakistan in general and Islamabad and Punjab, in particular, have taken protective measures to cope with any serious problem of law and order in next couple of days.
The Islamabad administration has imposed section 144 in the federal capital for a week to clamp a crackdown on the protestors if the situation gets out of control any time in particular on Friday after Jumma prayer. The Islamabad administration has constituted a minority protection unit (MPU) and stationed dozens of police personnel outside the properties and workplaces of Christians in the federal capital territory.
Violent protests have began in Jaranwala a tehsil headquarters of Faisalabad district over blasphemous act of some Christians. Thousands of protestors had gathered outside Eisa colony in Jaranwala after spreading of the news of alleged desecration by some Christians. The protestors whose number was in thousands attacked the house of Christians in the city besides vandalizing at least half a dozen churches.
The incident has sent a wave of shock of anger among the people across Pakistan. Although the police and Rangers are taking preemptive measures and strictly following zero tolerance strategy to control the situation but apprehensions are growing that the religious clerics may provoke the public in their Jumma prayer sermons and it may led to violent protests across Pakistan.
Meanwhile, a group of Christian women staged protest in G 6 sector of Islamabad. The Christian women protestors were holding banners and play cards calling for protection of Christians across Pakistan in the wake of Jaranwala incident.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Human Right Commission has announced to send a fact-finding mission to Jaranwala to find facts relating to alleged desecration of holy Quran.