Kasur
(AsiaNews) A mob of some 600 people attacked about a hundred
Christian homes in Bahmani, a village in Kasur district in Punjab. The National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) of the Catholic Church in Pakistan
reported the incident, saying that the violence caused major damages to
a number of homes. The attackers also stole valuables (gold jewellery
and cash).
The incident occurred on Tuesday. A cleric in a local mosque
accused the Christians of blasphemy inciting his fellow Muslims to
attack the Christians. However, according to the NCJP the real reason
for the attack lies elsewhere, in events that occurred a day earlier.
Speaking to AsiaNews NCJP member Irfan Barkat said
the trouble began on Monday when two men, one Christian, the other
Muslim, quarrelled. The Muslim, Muhammad Riaz, was riding his bicycle
and found himself on the path of Sardar Mashi, a 38-year-old Christian
who was driving his tractor. When Mashi asked Riaz to move to let him
pass, the latter refused and this turned into a quarrel between the two
men. Later the Muslim turned to his local Muslim religious leader,
saying the Christian had blasphemed. .
The following night Muslims stormed the Christian section of
the village, targeting about a hundred houses, setting some on fire
with petrol bombs. A mob of about 600 Muslims attacked Christians with
sticks and acid, torching cars and motorcycles parked in the streets as
well as electricity meters.
Yesterday, a committee made up of six Christians and Muslims
met to deal with the issue and find a way to pacify relations between
the two communities. They set themselves a four-day deadline for a
solution, Irfan Barkat said.
Incidents like the one in Bahmani are frequent in Punjab
province. Usually violence by Muslims is justified by blaming would-be
victims of blasphemy.
According to the NCJP, a total of 892 people have been charged with blasphemy since 1986.
Under Section 295 B of Pakistans Criminal Code, insulting
Muhammad or Islam, or desecrating the Quran, is punishable by life in
prison or death.
