The United States has once again schooled Pakistan over targeted attacks on churches in response to the reported desecration of the Quran in Pakistan. The Biden administration, on Wednesday, in staunch words asserted Islamabad to investigate the incident and said, "resorting to violence or the use of threats is never an acceptable form of expression". It asked Pakistani authorities to conduct a free and fair investigation without hampering peaceful freedom of expression.
Notably, the Biden administration's response came after a mob allegedly led by the Pakistani Taliban, formally called the Tehreek-e-Taliban-e-Pakistan-- an umbrella organisation of various Islamist armed militant groups operating along the Afghan-- attacked several churches over alleged blasphemy in Faisalabad’s Jaranwala. According to local media reports, over 100 houses were set on fire, forcing authorities to launch an immediate evacuation drive.
“So we are deeply concerned that churches and homes were targeted in response to reported Quran desecration in Pakistan. We support peaceful freedom of expression and the right to freedom of religion and belief for everybody. And as we have previously said, we are always concerned about incidents of religiously motivated violence," US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said at the state briefing. He added,
“Violence or the threat of violence is never an acceptable form of expression, and we urge Pakistani authorities to conduct a full investigation into these allegations and call for calm for all of those involved."
Pakistan caretaker PM orders strict action
According to Geo News, more than 100 people have been arrested for their involvement in riots over alleged blasphemy. Meanwhile, newly appointed caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar condemned the incident and directed law enforcement agencies to nab the culprits behind the vandalisation of churches. I am gutted by the visuals coming out of Jaranwala, Faisalabad. Stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities,” said Kakar in a post on X, the microblogging website formerly known as Twitter.
It is worth mentioning Pakistan has a long record of committing atrocities against minority communities. On several occasions, local and international organisations highlighted the issue of kidnappings of girls, religious conversion and forced marriages. In 1947--a year it bifurcated from India- it had nearly 23 per cent minority population but it has now redcued to merely 3 per cent.
