On the evening of 24 May, Sayed Zeeshanul Haq (a Muslim) noticed that Humayun Masih (a Christian) was burning paper that appeared to have verses of the Qur’an on it.
Haq complained to the police, who registered a blasphemy report against Humayun Masih (27), a known drug addict who has spent three years in a psychiatric hospital. When the police went to arrest him, they found a crowd of Muslims had gathered, eager to burn Humayun to death. After Humayun was taken into police custody, Muslim clerics led the mob to Dhup Sarri, Sanda area in Lahore, the Christian district where Humayun Masih lives.
Running for life
Christians fled for their lives as the mob fired weapons into the air, vandalised the church and looted at least 15 Christian homes. Police tried to intervene but were pelted with rocks. Two companies of Punjab Rangers were sent to the area to restore peace. After Haider Ashraf, the Deputy Inspector General for Operations, received a head wound, a baton charge was ordered and the riot put down using tear gas. Five police officers were wounded.
Pakistan’s national and provincial authorities have not always ordered a prompt police response to religiously motivated violence. Why the change in response?
‘Enough is enough’, Haider Ashraf said. ‘Such incidents tarnish the image of our country. The Zimbabwean cricket team was touring the country and we could not afford any disturbance like this.’
‘It is the first time the government has succeeded in acting in time to save both the people and their homes’, said Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shah.
