The caretaker Punjab government has ordered a high-level inquiry after a violent mob set fire to several churches and vandalised Christians’ homes on Wednesday.
Around 100 people have been arrested, a first information reporter has been registered, and paramilitary Rangers have been called in to take control of the situation.
After allegations spread that the Holy Quran had been desecrated, the mob made its way through a predominantly Christian area on the outskirts of the industrial city of Faisalabad.
“This was a well thought out plan to disrupt peace and a high-level investigation is underway regarding the desecration of the Holy Quran and incidents that take place afterward,” a spokesperson for the provincial government said in a statement.
The spokesperson said police “foiled” the bid to attack the homes of the minorities and that the “peace committee” mobilised to ensure similar attempts are thwarted.
“The frequency and scale of such attacks — which are systematic, violent and often uncontainable — appear to have increased in the last several years,” said the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
