News Desk
SARGODHA, May 25, 2024:
The National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), a human rights body of the Catholic Church, has issued a strong condemnation of the violent incident in Mujahid Colony, Sargodha, where a mob attacked and vandalized houses of Christian families following accusations that a Christian had desecrated pages of the Holy Quran.
In a joint statement, Bishop Samson Shukardin, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference and Chairperson of NCJP, Rev. Fr. Bernard Emmanuel, National Director of NCJP, and Mr. Naeem Yousaf Gill, Executive Director of NCJP, expressed grave concerns. “This attack once again exposes the failure of the state and law enforcement agencies in curbing the increasing extremism and violence in society, despite the directives of the Supreme Court,” they stated.
The NCJP leaders called on the Punjab Police and district administration to ensure the security of the Christian community and bring the perpetrators to justice. They emphasized that swift and impartial justice is essential to restore faith in the legal system. Additionally, they urged for a judicial inquiry led by Dr. Shoaib Suddle to determine responsibility for the mob attack and hold police officials accountable for their inaction.
Furthermore, the NCJP leaders demanded that no false blasphemy charges be registered against any Christians and called for protection and prompt compensation for the damage to the houses and factory. They also expressed solidarity with the affected Christian families and urged the Christian community to continue praying for the aggrieved families.
The NCJP’s condemnation highlights ongoing concerns about extremism and the effectiveness of state mechanisms in protecting minority communities in Pakistan.