By Khurram Daniel, Westminster Justice and Peace Volunteer

A brief report of Parliamentary Q&A session on the Jaranwala incident with speaker Archbishop Sebastian Shaw, Archbishop of Lahore in Pakistan. The event was organized by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) at Palace of Westminster, London on Monday 29^th January 2024. 

“The main focus of the event was the Jaranwala atrocity of 16^th August 2023, its aftermath and the plight of Christians across Pakistan.” 

The event was chaired by Lord Alton of Liverpool, with around 60 participants in attendance, including parliamentary and civil society members.

Archbishop Shaw described the situation and shared the recent updates of the incident. He said that this is one of the worst violent mob attacks against Christians in the history of Pakistan, that on a single day more than 25 church buildings were attacked and more than 100 homes belonging to Christians were torched/burnt. Their homes, furniture, and valuables were turned to Ashes, using some lethal chemical which catches instant fire and melts everything down within few seconds.

He also added that the mob was gathered by the announcement broadcasted by a Muslim Cleric over local mosque loudspeaker, after allegations that the Holy Quran was desecrated by the local Christian resident, which instigated and charged the violent Mob to attack the Christian settlements. The violent mob raised slogans in favour of Islamic extremist organisation/political party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan and Khatam-e-Nabuwat, demanding the immediate arrest, rather execution of the accused. He said that the sudden gathering of a mob of thousands within a few hours and considering the nature of these attacks, it seemed to be a pre-planned attack.

He further added that among these victims some of the girls had their preparation and things (dowry articles) ready for marriages. The valuables, especially gold, were looted and other things that were bought, e.g. Furniture, electronics, utensils were totally burnt to ashes.

In addition, a special report “Persecuted Yet Again” was also presented at the event, which is produced jointly by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) and the National/Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP/CCJP) Pakistan (A Catholic Church organization established in 1985 by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan). 

According to a report by the National/Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP/CCJP), out of the estimated 7,000 perpetrators, only about 300 were arrested for vandalism and arson by the end of last October, and at least 100 of them were later released.

All present in the meeting room strongly condemned these violent attacks and demanded the Government of Pakistan to arrest and punish the culprits and take effective measures to protect and safeguard the Christian minorities in Pakistan from such atrocities in future.