by Jibran Khan

After the Taliban attacks against two churches on March 15, a mob had lynched two suspects. The police conducted an indiscriminate raid in the Christian quarter, without ascertaining the identity of those arrested. Religious leaders and political activists demand the immediate release of the innocent.

Lahore (AsiaNews) – Police arrested about 200 people today in Youhanabad, the Christian district of Lahore, for the lynching of two people that took place on March 15 following Taliban attacks against the two churches. The police have not disclosed where they have brought those arrested.

For the moment, families have been denied the chance to get in touch with their loved ones.
The situation in the district is tense and many people have started to leave the area. Religious leaders and political activists are demanding that the innocent be released immediately.

On 15 March two Taliban blew themselves up at the entrance of two churches, killing 19 people and injuring more than 70. In response to the attacks of a crowd of people took and killed two Muslims, suspected of being involved in explosions but later proved to have been unrelated to the events.

Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against 600 Christians in relation to lynching. However Fr. Srif John, of the diocese of Lahore, told AsiaNews: "The police conducted a raid in the district and indiscriminately arrested people without identifying them based on names in the FIR. We are not opposed to the arrest of those who have done something wrong, but the arrest of innocent people is unacceptable".

 

• PAKISTAN
• church
• attacks
• arrest
• christians
• taliban