Lahore:
A mob went on the rampage in a Christian-dominated neighbourhood in this eastern Pakistani city on Saturday following reports that a Christian man had committed blasphemy, burning scores of houses and driving out about 150 families.
The trouble began on Friday, when over 2,000 enraged Muslims gathered around Joseph Colony at Noor Road and pelted stones at the homes of 150 Christian families.
The mob was led by one Shafiq Ahmed, who claimed he was looking for a Christian named Savan Masih as he had allegedly committed blasphemy.
Though the mob could not trace Masih, some men found his 65-year-old father Chaman Masih and assaulted him. They then burnt Masih's home.
Late in the evening, the mob dispersed after a large police contingent was posted in the area and officials said they had registered an FIR against Masih under the blasphemy law.
This morning, a mob of over 3,000 people stormed Joseph Colony, driving out all the Christian families. Members of the mob then vandalised and burnt scores of homes.
Witnesses and local residents said policemen did nothing to stop them.
Footage on television showed houses and cars on fire at Joseph Colony.
Smoke billowed out of the ruins of several houses as members of the mob stood watching on the streets.
The mob dispersed late in the afternoon after the cleric of a nearby mosque assured them that action would be taken against the alleged blasphemer.
Police officials said they had arrested 26-year-old Savan Masih on a charge of blasphemy.
Pervaiz Rashid, a spokesman for the PML-N that rules Punjab province, said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had ordered an inquiry into the incident.
He said stern action will be taken against those responsible for taking the law into their hands and storming the Christian neighbourhood.
The provincial government will also take steps to facilitate the return of the Christian families to their homes, Rashid said.
Some Christian families had fled Joseph Colony on Friday after the mob tried to burn houses in the neighbourhood.
The mob had also damaged the car of a Christian pastor who came to the area to assess the situation.
Shahid Imran, named as the complainant in the FIR against Savan Masih, alleged that the Christian youth had uttered blasphemous remarks in the past but he had ignored them.
On Thursday, Savan again allegedly made blasphemous remarks, Imran claimed.
When Imran told his friend Shafiq Ahmed about the matter, he picked up a knife and went to Savan's house. Savan was not at home and his relatives said they would hand him over to Ahmed when they found him.
On Friday, Ahmed gathered other men and went to Savan's house. Muslim residents of nearby areas joined the group after Friday prayers and the situation went out of control as the mob swelled.
Hafiz Abdul Majid, the chief of Badami Bagh police station, told the media that a preliminary investigation had shown that Imran had falsely accused Masih of blasphemy.
Police were forced to register a case against the Christian youth to placate the mob, Majid said.
Rights activists have said that Pakistan's blasphemy law is often misused to persecute minorities like Christians and to settle personal scores.
Last year, Rimsha Masih, a mentally challenged teenage Christian girl, was framed for blasphemy by a Muslim cleric in Islamabad. The girl was later exonerated by a court but she and her family had to go into hiding.
The trouble began on Friday, when over 2,000 enraged Muslims gathered around Joseph Colony at Noor Road and pelted stones at the homes of 150 Christian families.
The mob was led by one Shafiq Ahmed, who claimed he was looking for a Christian named Savan Masih as he had allegedly committed blasphemy.
Though the mob could not trace Masih, some men found his 65-year-old father Chaman Masih and assaulted him. They then burnt Masih's home.
Late in the evening, the mob dispersed after a large police contingent was posted in the area and officials said they had registered an FIR against Masih under the blasphemy law.
This morning, a mob of over 3,000 people stormed Joseph Colony, driving out all the Christian families. Members of the mob then vandalised and burnt scores of homes.
Witnesses and local residents said policemen did nothing to stop them.
Footage on television showed houses and cars on fire at Joseph Colony.
Smoke billowed out of the ruins of several houses as members of the mob stood watching on the streets.
The mob dispersed late in the afternoon after the cleric of a nearby mosque assured them that action would be taken against the alleged blasphemer.
Police officials said they had arrested 26-year-old Savan Masih on a charge of blasphemy.
Pervaiz Rashid, a spokesman for the PML-N that rules Punjab province, said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had ordered an inquiry into the incident.
He said stern action will be taken against those responsible for taking the law into their hands and storming the Christian neighbourhood.
The provincial government will also take steps to facilitate the return of the Christian families to their homes, Rashid said.
Some Christian families had fled Joseph Colony on Friday after the mob tried to burn houses in the neighbourhood.
The mob had also damaged the car of a Christian pastor who came to the area to assess the situation.
Shahid Imran, named as the complainant in the FIR against Savan Masih, alleged that the Christian youth had uttered blasphemous remarks in the past but he had ignored them.
On Thursday, Savan again allegedly made blasphemous remarks, Imran claimed.
When Imran told his friend Shafiq Ahmed about the matter, he picked up a knife and went to Savan's house. Savan was not at home and his relatives said they would hand him over to Ahmed when they found him.
On Friday, Ahmed gathered other men and went to Savan's house. Muslim residents of nearby areas joined the group after Friday prayers and the situation went out of control as the mob swelled.
Hafiz Abdul Majid, the chief of Badami Bagh police station, told the media that a preliminary investigation had shown that Imran had falsely accused Masih of blasphemy.
Police were forced to register a case against the Christian youth to placate the mob, Majid said.
Rights activists have said that Pakistan's blasphemy law is often misused to persecute minorities like Christians and to settle personal scores.
Last year, Rimsha Masih, a mentally challenged teenage Christian girl, was framed for blasphemy by a Muslim cleric in Islamabad. The girl was later exonerated by a court but she and her family had to go into hiding.
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