One year after violence, Jaranwala's Christians still waiting for justice

During the commemoration, Christians paraded wearing black clothes and praying against extremism. Local pastor Fr. Khalid Rashid Asi urged government intervention. The Christian community did not participate in Independence Day celebrations, which are celebrated on Aug. 15, but planted new trees in parishes.

Jaranwala (AsiaNews) - One year after the Jaranwala violence in Pakistan's Faisalabad district, Christians are still awaiting justice. On Aug. 16, 2023, under the pretext of alleged blasphemy, more than 25 churches were stormed and hundreds of houses were looted and burned, forcing the local population to flee.

During the commemoration held yesterday, which was also attended by the Bishop of Faisalabad, Msgr. Indrias Rehmat, hundreds of people marched in wearing black clothes and chanting slogans against extremism. Christians prayed for the victims and for peace.

The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF), which organized the event, urged the government and civil society organizations to find possible solutions to the rise of extremism against religious minorities in Pakistan. Human Rights and Minorities Minister Ramesh Singh Arora and Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayyat spoke during the day.

A day earlier, on August 15, Pakistan celebrated Independence Day. Unlike the rest of the country, the Christian community, in honor of the Jaranwala victims, did not participate in the street celebrations. However, in some parishes, youth and children, along with the faithful and priests, celebrated Mass and planted new trees.

“I wish you all a happy Independence Day,” said Fr. Khalid Rashid Asi, priest of Holy Rosary Parish. “We have always installed flags on the roofs of our churches and celebrated by playing drums and dropping rose petals on our flag. But today we remember August 16, 2023, when dozens of churches were set on fire by extremists, our homes looted, and our people forced to leave their homes and remain in open fields.”

“Today we pray for our enemies,” the pastor continued, ”but from the other side we raise our voices for justice, we still ask the Supreme Court, the current government and the army to provide us with justice. We want a fair trial against the extremists, but instead they are released from the courts and our innocent people are still behind bars. What kind of independence is this? We have always loved our country and served it with true zeal, but our people are always mistreated.”

“On this Independence Day, I did not see the happiness on the faces of our people that we usually see on Independence Day; behind this sadness is a long series of oppressions. But we still remember our martyrs and heroes who did their best for this country,” added Fr. Khalid.