Christians in Pakistan’s Jaranwala ring in 2024 with rebuilding

By: Kamran Chaudhry

White-washed houses and meaningful messages hide painful memories in Jaranwala where two dozen churches and tens of homes where ransacked in a mob attack last August.

“Happy Christmas and Happy New Year 2024. Congratulations to all Christian brothers and sisters on the big day” states a banner from assistant commissioner and chief officer of the municipal committee emblazoned on the St. John Catholic Church in Christian colony in Punjab province.

Beneath it stands a placard, supported by renovated wall, displaying helplines and emergency numbers of the deputy commissioner office.

Six constables have been stationed at the church following Aug. 16 riot over allegations that a Quran had been desecrated. More than 80 Christian homes and 26 churches were vandalized.

These include the charred house of Saima Younas located opposite to the Catholic Church. The closeness facilities her family to use the church toilet as Al Khidmat AK Foundation, a Muslim charity, rebuilds their double story house.

“Jesus I love” proclaims a message, with a heart symbol, written with ash above its entrance. However Saima’s family has to knock other doors to use toilet after the constables close the church at 11 p.m. as the mercury drops.

“We have to wash our dishes and clothes around the colony. I wish the attackers only looted and damaged but had spared burning the building,” said Saima crying a tear from her eyes.

“This is no more a place to live or sleep. We had rashes from smoldering walls in hot summers. We ask the relatives to visit later. We are irked.”

The 28-year-old misses dowry she had collected over years by working as a maid at a teacher academy and with the pension of her father, who worked as a supervisor at the tehsil [township] municipal administration. The ashes, now dusted off from her house, included those of her tea set, a sandwich toaster, a carpet, beddings and fans.

When Christian Business Fellowship Pakistan arranged a mass wedding in Jaranwala last October, Saima even requested relatives to find a suitable spouse and get free dowry. But no arrangements were possible in emergency, she said.

A gas stove and curtains, covering half burnt windows, now keep her warm as temperature reaches 6 degree Celsius at night. The 28-year-old cooked kheer (rice pudding) and fried fish for her family to celebrate the New Year.

“We cannot return favors of our community who poured aid from around the country. AK workers have not only rebuilt the walls but also restored our faith in humanity,” she said.

Haji Amir Shehzad supervisor construction AK Foundation claims completing eight Christian houses last year. The welfare wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, a moderate Islamist political party, will inaugurate a reverse osmosis filtration plant in the Christian colony of Jaranwala next month.

“Four houses are being reconstructed now. We wanted to help the poor Christians who are also Ahl al-Kitab (People of the Book). The miscreants are responsible for tragedy. They can’t be Muslims. Christians who committed blasphemy can’t be Christians,” he said.

In a report released last month, Pakistan bishops’ conference’s National Commission for Justice and Peace said 303 people, including 57 Christians, were arrested in 22 cases separate cases based on police complaints.

According to Fr. Khalid Mukhtar parish priest of St. John Church, 144 Muslims have already been released on bail while five blasphemy accused Christians are presently in District Jail, Faisalabad.

“The actual situation is bad. Several people nominated in the cases filed by local Christians are still not arrested,” he told UCA News.

“Muslim lawyers have been added in the legal time. Appeal against those released will be filed in Lahore High Court. Loopholes are being identified in the bad investigation.”

The priest was speaking after New Year mass at the jam-packed Jaranwala church where he called for inner change to receive the protection and mercy of God.

“He will be our castle. It is time for a new life style and to move forward,” said Fr. Mukhtar.

Distribution of government funds is another challenge. The government of Pakistan gave local Christians affected by the violence 2 million rupees ($7179.40) in compensation depending on the damage of each house. However only one household was selected among several joint families living in the same house.

These include Saima who didn’t receive any check despite owning two rooms at ground floor.

“I suffered the most loss as most of the attackers avoided going upstairs. But the government only paid compensation to my uncle arguing we shared one entrance door. Even his married children livingon first floor were denied funds,” she said.

Shama Bibi of Isa Nagri, another Christian colony of Jaranwala, was ignored as her family fled Jaranwala following attack and could not meet government survey teams. Her father-in-law, who had a habit of praying aloud, was advised to worship silently during their refuge in a neighboring Muslim majority village.

A church ministry donated them tarpulin sheets and a wooden door that her husband has placed unhinged at one of the under construction rooms.

A Christmas themed curtain is the only decoration that also covers the blank space for the window of her bedroom. Another white curtain serves as the door of its entrance. The chilling cold and the first winter of her newborn son worsens her worries.

“Our house was not burnt but we shared two swollen walls with houses which were set ablaze. We cover our blanket with a quilt while my elderly parents-in-law sleep outside under tarpaulin sheet,” said Shama whose husband is a laborer.

“We thank God to see the New Year. Items don’t matter. At least our lives were spared. We hope and pray the attacks don’t happen again.”