Pakistan: Christian priest injured in taking pictures at Jaranwala

In one other act of persecution of minorities in Pakistan, a Christian priest was shot at and injured by an unidentified suspect in Fai­sal­abad on Sunday night time (3 September), Dawn information reported. 

Reverend Father Eleazar Sidhu was discharged from the hospital on Monday afternoon and he had a dressing on his hand, the report added, citing sources. Sidhu is claimed to be the priest at Myong-Sang Naserth church in Jaranwala tehsil.  

Following the Jaranwala taking pictures, an FIR was filed beneath Sections 324 (try to homicide) and 34 (widespread intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code. 

According to the FIR, Father Sidhu acknowledged that he was main prayers within the church on the twenty eighth of August when somebody wrote objectionable spiritual slogans in opposition to him on the outer wall of the church. He added that these objectionable slogans have been later whitewashed by police on his grievance. 

The grievance added that a number of days in the past when he went to drop his son off in school, a number of bearded folks threatened him. They reportedly mentioned, “As our written slogans have been deleted from the wall of the church, soon you will also be deleted”. 

Narrating the incident, Father Sidhu acknowledged that he was returning house from the church on Sunday night (3 September) when an unidentified bearded man shot and injured him. Consequently, he was admitted to the Faisalabad DHQ Hospital from the place he was discharged the subsequent day. 

A spokesperson for Faisalabad police mentioned that they’re at present conducting an investigation into the case. 

As per media stories, the incident reportedly happened close to Sem Nullah at Adda Khanoana, in Faisalabad tehsil whereas the Myong-Sang Naserth church is positioned in Reh­mat Town in Jaranwala tehsil. 

It is essential to notice that the Jaranwala space rose to the limelight a number of weeks in the past when coordinated assaults have been launched on the Christian neighborhood residing on this space. 

Evidently, in mid-August, the Islamists focused the Christians in Jaranwala of the Faisalabad district in Pakistan, over blasphemy fees. The majority Muslim neighborhood attacked the minority Christian neighborhood and their church buildings. They reportedly vandalised and torched a number of Churches that have been positioned within the neighbourhood. 

The mob carried out violent assaults on Churches allegedly after a Christian citizen, Saleem Masih, was accused of committing blasphemy in opposition to the Quran.  

Speaking on the horrific assault, Azad Marshall who’s the President Bishop of Pakistan 

expressed his concern and helplessness over the predicament of Christians in Pakistan on the social media platform X. 

“Words fail me as I write this. We, Bishops, Priests, and lay people are deeply pained and distressed at the Jaranwala incident in the Faisalabad District in Pakistan. A church building is being burnt as I type this message,” he tweeted.

Words fail me as I write this. We, Bishops, Priests and lay persons are deeply pained and distressed on the Jaranwala incident within the Faisalabad District in Pakistan. A church constructing is being burnt as I sort this message. Bibles have been desecrated and Christians have been… pic.twitter.com/xruE83NPXL

— Bishop Azad Marshall (@BishopAzadM) August 16, 2023

He additional added, “Bibles have been desecrated and Christians have been tortured and harassed having been falsely accused of violating the Holy Quran. We cry out for justice and action from law enforcement and those who dispense justice and the safety of all citizens to intervene immediately and assure us that our lives are valuable in our own homeland that has just celebrated independence and freedom.” 

Notably, Pakistan’s remedy of its minorities, significantly Hindus, is already beneath the scanner and has been severely criticised a number of instances in several worldwide stories. The extremists in Pakistan are additionally infamous for utilizing spurious fees and unfounded allegations to whip up communal passions within the title of blasphemy and for focusing on minorities, together with Hindus and Christians.