Update from CLAAS on Faisalabad Attack

Here is an update received from CLAAS regarding the recent

Dear Friends,

Greetings from CLAAS,

I would like to inform all the national and international friends that this is a fake story about the attack on Christians of Faisalabad. It is also a false statement that 120 houses were burnt at Waris Pura Faisalabad. CLAAS staff was present in Waris Pura at the time when the Muslims protested against Christians alleging them for blasphemy. Police is still deputed at the area to control the situation if any case. Please find here in below a report on Waris Pura Faisalabad.

Christians Scared from Terror in Faisalabad


On July 10, 2010 a mob of about 200 Muslim extremist gathered for protest demonstration against Christian Community, Faisalabad, after alleging Pastor Rashid and Pastor Sajid for blasphemy on 2nd July 2010. The Pastors were arrested by the police on the same day after the registration FIR No. 534/2010 against them offence under section 295-C at Civil Line, Police Station, Faisalabad, and later Challaned for District Jail Faisalabad.

On Saturday July 10, 2010 Mr. Asad Emmanuel, Vice President Pakistan Christian National Party resident of Waris Pura Faisalabad informed Mr. Joseph Francis National Director CLAAS that there were some Muslim Molana’s (religious leaders) gathered at Daud Nagar street no. 6, in the evening at 7:00 p.m. in the leadership of Mushtaq Insari a local Muslim councilor to protest against Christian.

They have been chanting slogans and burning Tyres (wheels) on the main road Waris Pura, Mathai Wala Chawk, (square junction) Faisalabad. The procession started throwing stones on The Holy Rosary Catholic Church while passing by it, Christian were scared and frightened because of keeping in view the very bad experiences in the past in the same city Korian and Gojra. Therefore Christian immediately informed police which was on the spot with in 10 minutes and control the mob. When Muslims saw a heavy security of Police around the Church and Christian colony (Daud Nagar Faisalabad) they said that they were making a peaceful procession and started to escape from the scene.

A local resident Faisal Sahotra told CLAAS that local Christians are safe because police was there on time.

“There were above than 300 Muslims in Mathai Wala Chawk but later they were shattered when the Police was there on time”, Pastor Mukhtar Naeem from Presbyterian Church of Pakistan (PCP) Faisalabad told to CLAAS.

Talking to CLAAS Amir Joel Sohotra MPA (Member Provincial Assembly) told that they have called a heavy security of police on time therefore the circumstances are under control.

Through sources CLAAS come to know that on July 11, 2010 there were broadcast announcements from the different Mosques of Yaseen Abad and Daud Nagar, Waris Pura, Faisalabad saying “Christians have disgrace our Holy Prophet, therefore all believers of Mohammad PBUH should come and together for protest against Christians at 3:00 p.m. Above than 500 Muslim were gathered in the Gol Chawk, Ghanta Ghar, police security was there at the spot to control the mob from Mischief’s. Pastor Jabran from Gospal Vision Ministry, street no. 4, Waris Pura and a member of peace committee told CLAAS team that police was already on the spot for security purpose therefore procession was peaceful.

Pastor Ajmal Chughtai and Pastor Imran Riaz residents of Ghanta Ghar, Faisalabad told CLAAS that there is peace in the area due to the high security alert.

It is also worth mentioned here that Waris Pura Faisalabad is a constituency from where three sitting members of the Provincial Assembly are residing as Mr. Parvaiz Rafiq (MPA) representative of Pakistan Peoples Party, Mr. Amir Joel Sahotra (MPA) representative of Muslim League Nawaz and Mr. Tahir Khalil Sindhu MPA and Parliament secretary representative of Muslim League Nawaz.

CLAAS Team