LAHORE: Pakistan police arrested at least 100 Muslim men and charged them for attacking the Christian father and son on in Sargodha district, approximately 200 kilometers from Lahore.The incident occurred on Saturday when an angry mob went on a rampage after locals discovered burnt pages of the Quran outside the two Christian men's house and accused the son of being behind it.The mob set their house and shoemaking factory on fire in the city of Sargodha in Punjab province, said senior police officer Asad Ijaz Malhi.Punjab police said in a statement it beefed up security at churches.A similar incident took place, last year in August, in Jaranwala tehsil, Faisalabad district, where at least 24 churches and over 80 houses belonging to Christians were burnt down by a mob enraged over reports of two Christians desecrating the Quran.Accusations of blasphemy are frequent in Pakistan, and under the nation's blasphemy laws, individuals found guilty of insulting Islam or its religious figures face severe penalties, including death sentences.
While no executions have been carried out on such charges, mere allegations often trigger riots and provoke mobs to commit acts of violence, including lynching and murder.
(With inputs from agencies)
LAHORE: Pakistan police arrested at least 100 Muslim men and charged them for attacking the Christian father and son on in Sargodha district, approximately 200 kilometers from Lahore.The incident occurred on Saturday when an angry mob went on a rampage after locals discovered burnt pages of the Quran outside the two Christian men's house and accused the son of being behind it.The mob set their house and shoemaking factory on fire in the city of Sargodha in Punjab province, said senior police officer Asad Ijaz Malhi.Punjab police said in a statement it beefed up security at churches.A similar incident took place, last year in August, in Jaranwala tehsil, Faisalabad district, where at least 24 churches and over 80 houses belonging to Christians were burnt down by a mob enraged over reports of two Christians desecrating the Quran.Accusations of blasphemy are frequent in Pakistan, and under the nation's blasphemy laws, individuals found guilty of insulting Islam or its religious figures face severe penalties, including death sentences. While no executions have been carried out on such charges, mere allegations often trigger riots and provoke mobs to commit acts of violence, including lynching and murder.(With inputs from agencies)
