Atrocious situation in Dhop Sari Gulshan Ravi Lahore

On May 24, 2015 CTS Director Ms. Katherine Sapna came to know through sources that a Christian Colony at Gulshan Ravi Dhoop Sari Lahore attacked by Muslim extremists at about 6:00 pm. They started threatened Christians for burning houses and the Church (a big catholic church in the area) after they alleged an addicted and mentally disordered Christian name Humayun Faisal for burning the Holy Quran. Police lodged complain and arrested Humayun the same day.

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CTS team including Ms. Nomee Coordinator, Sunil Karamat Field Officer and Qaiser Yousaf Field Officer, reached at the spot at 8:30 pm to collect the real facts of the incident.

Christians True Spirit (CTS) was the first NGO reached at the spot and reported that there are about 70-80 Christian families populated among the Muslims. There are three big Madrassas in this area and the team found mostly people religious and fanatic. They were chanting slogans against Christians and used abusive language. There was tense situation in the area as the Muslim mob attacked Christian’s houses break the windows and the doors of the houses as they have been stoned the houses. Christian families were threatened to burn alive in the houses therefore they fled for safety. Heavy security was called in the area to hold on situation while DIG Operations, SSP operations and Rana Mashood Khan MNA were also present at the spot to control the growing situation. Police security provided protection to the Christians and helped them to flee safely. Muslim extremists were gathered in the area till late night, they looted Christian houses and steel valuable belongings of Christians.

Situation was going to be worse and out of control of the police therefore District Inspector General of Police (DIG Operations) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP Operations) and Rana Mashood Khan MNA Member of National Assembly (area politician) who were present at the spot tried to control the mob by negotiating with the Mullas, local Islamic leaders and Ullamas for peace and to make the situation better in this area.

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Situation was going to be worse and out of control of the police therefore District Inspector General of Police (DIG Operations) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP Operations) and Rana Mashood Khan MNA Member of National Assembly (area politician) who were present at the spot tried to control the mob by negotiating with the Mullas, local Islamic leaders and Ullamas for peace and to make the situation better in this area.

DIG operations called more Elite Force and Ranger Police for the security of Christians and to control the mob. CTS team noticed that Muslim neighbors helped Christians and protected them at their places. CTS team met Mohammad Khalil a Local who protected 4 Christian families at his house and managed their safe escape later. Mohammad Khalil informed the team that Muslims wanted to burn the houses and also burn alive the Christian man (recently accused of blasphemy) without any investigation of the incident and just to take revenge of two Muslims criminals and attackers of Youhanabad Churches who were burnt by Christians. He further stated that it is not good that public at large take the law in their hands and harass innocent residents, only accused should be punished. He said that people should wait for the police investigation and legal procedure to punish someone.

CTS Team also pointed that media is prejudiced, neither press media nor electronic media came to the place to cover the incident as it was a matter of Christian Community. Minorities are frequently victimized in all over Pakistan especially in Punjab but after the incident of Youhanabad the Punjab Government is very conscious and not allow media to highlight minority issues as they avoid international media to report or highlight issues related to minorities.

Since four days this area missed laugh of children, noise of residents and there is quietness in the street. Only a few police men sting outside the Christian houses to protect them from the extremists as they looted the house on the day of incident and damaged Christians household.

Christians True Spirit (CTS) is is monitoring the situation in the area and also in contact with the concerned Investigation Officer in the Gulshan Ravi Police Station Lahore.

On May 25, 2014 CTS team visited IO in the local police station and showed worries about the safety of Humayun Faisal. IO informed the team that he is in safe hands and Police is responsible for his life protection. IO assured the team that Police is concerned for the life safety of people at Doop Sari either they are Christians but they are human being. He also said that Police has control the situation with the help of local Muslim leaders from Madrassas. He further stated that Christians are afraid that is why the left, otherwise Police is in the area for 24 hours to protect them from any harm.

IO investigation Gulshan Ravi said that due to the pressure of locals Police have to registered case FIR no. 424/15 offense under section 295-B PPC against Humayun Faisal s/o Allah Rakha on the same day May 24, 2015 in the police station Gulshan Ravi Lahore on the complaint of Syeed Zeeshan Al-Haq s/o Syeed Razwan Al-Haq and took him in custody.

IO informed that police has also lodged FIR no. 627/15 offense under section 452/440, 436/395, 431/353, 186/148, 149/295B PPC, 7ATA against 47 Muslim attackers by name in the Police Station Sandha Lahore for attack on St. Joseph Catholic Church, break the gate and windows of the church and harm the building, further that the State is complainant of the FIR.

CTS team was informed that police of the police station Gulshan Ravi is responsible to for the Investigation of the both cases as police station Sandha has referred the case to Gulshan Ravi police station Lahore.

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According to the FIR Humayun Faisal is accused of Blasphemy as he was blamed to burn the Holy pages of Quran from the box which was fixed on the road for public to save Quranic papers and other paper with verses. Humayun was an addicted and also insane person who just wanted to collect the boxes to sale them for money to fulfill his need of intoxication. When Muslims including Syeed Zeeshan Al-Haq and others saw him steeling Paper box they accused him for burning the pages of Quran.

It is worth mentioned that Humayun is arrested under section 295-B and the same charge has been imposed on 47 Muslim accused by the police for attacking and disgracing St. Joseph Catholic Church. CTS team assumes that police has lodged a counter FIR which can be helpful to release Humayun Faisal from the charges soon.

Presently Christians are afraid of the threats by the Muslim extremists; they do not want to come back to homes till Friday May 29, 2015 because there is an apprehension that Muslims can attack Christians after Friday prayers. On Friday more than thousand people took gather in the Mosque or Madrassas for prayers in routine and they can attack Christians. Though police security has been provided but Christians do not trust police protection.

Reported by,

CTS Pakistan