AI-generated image: Message of solidarity for Christian community(In one of the videos, Lazar Gill is bleeding and badly wounded, and is seen to be on the verge of collapse, but the attackers continue to beat him. In another video Gill is seen lying, almost lifeless on the ground, while he is being kicked brutally. A Call for Justice
“When the Rescue 1122 officers tried to take Gill to the hospital, their van was attacked by the mob and they pelted stones. There were conflicting reports that Gill had succumbed to his wounds, but Fr David John says he has found out that the man may in fact be alive.
“He is alive but in a critical condition and has been shifted to the Civil-Military Hospital, Sargodha,” says Tariq Mehmood Ghauri, another activist of the Christian community – https://voicepk.net/2024/05/sargodha-christian-man-critical-after-mob-attack/

The religiously charged mob brutally attacked Nazir Masih, who was accused of burning the Quran, despite the presence of significant numbers of police officials at the scene. The mob’s aggression extended to vandalizing the ambulance intended to transport Masih to the hospital, demonstrating their intense anger and disregard for human life. According to our volunteer, Waseem Masih Sahotra, Nazir Masih is a well-respected Christian businessman in Sargodha, known for owning a shoe factory. An unknown Muslim resident in the vicinity of Masih’s factory accused him and his son, Sultan Masih, of desecrating the Quran, inciting others to seek revenge.

Condemning the Mob Violence in Sargodha: A Call for Justice and Solidarity

We strongly condemn the recent mob violence in Sargodha, where the homes of the Christian community were attacked, burned, and besieged. It is with great sorrow that we express our condolences to the Christian community over the tragic incident where a young Christian, Nasser Salar, was brutally stoned to death. In this time of grief and distress, we stand in solidarity with our Christian brothers and sisters. The global community has been repeatedly alerted to the fact that, under the guise of the blasphemy card, religious extremist networks have gained strength in Pakistan. These networks not only perpetrate mob violence, targeted killings, and lynching against religious minorities but also use these same tactics, filled with religious hatred, against various Muslim sub-sects. The Shia Muslims are the most affected sub-sect within Islam by the misuse of the blasphemy card. Just as Christianity is the most affected religious minority by the blasphemy card in Pakistan, within Islam, the Shia Muslims bear the brunt of this dangerous trend. Unfortunately, the Pakistani government has so far failed to dismantle the networks that exploit the blasphemy card. This ongoing failure to address the issue has allowed these extremist elements to continue their acts of violence and hatred. It is imperative that the government take immediate and effective measures to eliminate these networks and ensure the protection of all religious communities in Pakistan. In these challenging times, it is crucial for us to unite and advocate for justice, peace, and the protection of all religious and ethnic minorities. We urge the international community to pay heed to these violations and support efforts to combat religious extremism and violence in Pakistan.

In Pakistan, the persistent threat of blasphemy allegations and mob violence hangs heavily over Shia Muslims. The recent mob attack on Christian homes in Mujahid Colony, Sargodha, over blasphemy accusations, underscores the grave danger faced by Shia Muslims as well. Their religious identity and practices are often labeled as blasphemous, putting their religious freedoms at severe risk. This climate of intolerance and violence jeopardizes the safety and rights of Shia Muslims, highlighting the urgent need for protective measures and justice for all religious minorities in the country.

The case of Taimoor Raza, a young Shia student sentenced to death by the Lahore High Court, highlights the perilous situation for Shia Muslims in Pakistan. This verdict underscores that differences between Shia Islam and Sunni Islam are increasingly being labeled as blasphemy. The death sentence for a young individual for expressing his views online reflects the severity of the issue. Additionally, the number of blasphemy cases registered against Shia Muslims under these laws has reached into the thousands, illustrating the extensive and alarming use of these laws against this religious minority.

Screenshot of a video posted by DAWN News

Contradiction in Police’s statement: Social media footage depicted a mob surrounding a bloodied man and others, including teenagers, wrecking furniture. Another video showed a large blaze outside a house. DPO Malhi claimed they were “fake videos”, insisting no one was injured. “The police are maintaining law and order,” he said. However, a relative of an injured person contradicted this, telling Dawn.com that his uncle was in critical condition at a hospital and the family was not being allowed to meet him. A statement from Minority Rights March also said that videos of the incident showed the mob lynching of a 70year-old man “on the instigation of a local cleric” while the man’s home and factory were set ablaze. “The videos of the attack clearly show officers of the Punjab police being present on the site as silent spectators which points towards their tacit approval and facilitation of the terrorists involved in the attack,” the statement said.

In an attack reminiscent of last year’s Jaranwala incident, two Christian men were attacked by a mob in Mujahid Colony, a Christian locality in Sargodha, while a small scale factory was also set ablaze. At least five others were injured by the mob. Sargodha police claim to have arrested 15 people involved in the incident.