Christian Colony Attacked and Shot Up by Angry Mob in Pakistan

ICC Note:
A Christian Colony located in Pakistan’s eastern city Lahore was attacked on Sunday, July 28, by a mob of angry Muslims wielding guns and other deadly weapons. The attack was caused by an argument between Christians living in the Colony and a Muslim Cable provider who was demanding Christian pay an extra fee if they wanted to receive cable TV. When a Christian man refused to pay the fee he was beaten. Later that day, a mob gathered by the cable provider attacked the Colony, vandalizing churches and homes and injuring several Christians in the process. This incident highlights the struggles Christians face as a persecuted minority in Pakistan. Something must be done to protect the rights of the suffering minority.

7/31/2013 Pakistan (Pakistan Christian Post) – A Muslim mob equipped with lethal arms attacked the Christian Colony Shad Bagh in metropolitan area of Lahore on July 28, 2013, vandalizing a Catholic Church and the homes of Christian and injuring one Christian in broad day light, reports CLAAS, a non-governmental organization.
The CLAAS report issued here today, says “On Sunday July 28, 2013 at about 4:00 pm, a local resident Martian Javed Michel (Social Activists) informed CLAAS about the overwrought situation of Christians and Muslims in Shad Bagh Amir Road near Joseph Colony Lahore. It was also informed that infuriated mob of Muslims attacked on the houses of the local Christians and one Catholic Church with deadly weapons. CLAAS team including Mr. Sohail Habel (Finance Manager) Mr. Asher Sarfraz (Field Officer) and Saleem Gabriel, Samuel Paraya rushed to the occurrence place to help the Christians and find out the real facts.”
The Christian residents told the CLAAS team that a Muslim Television Cable Operator named Faisal Butt, who has a criminal background and has a grudge against Christians, was collecting extra fee charges for TV cable connection from Christians. About a month ago, Faisal Butt and his companions had a dispute with a Christian woman/widow and beat up the woman and her children demanding the extra fee for cable.
Faisal Butt was using the place of Babu Younis (a Christian) for railing the boasters of cable connection in this area for many years.On July 28, at 2:00 pm one of his helpers, named Asad, was collecting the cable fee in the Christian Colony of Shad Bagh. He went to Babu Younis’s house and asked for the fee. Babu informed Asad that Faisal Butt was using his house to fix the Cable Boaster to supply the connection and asked why they expected him pay the money. Asad forced to Babu Younis to pay the cable fee, then Babu demanded he should receive a free cable connection otherwise he would remove the boaster from his house. Asad became furious and started to beat him. Neighbor Christians gathered to help and saved Babu Younis and the matter was resolved.
After one hour, Faisal Butt arrived at the Christian Colony with a group of 30-35 people armed with deadly weapons. They opened fire in the air and started throwing stones and bricks at Christian houses. They also attacked a Catholic Church, breaking many of the church’s windows.
Riaz Masih, the son of Babu Younis, was shot in his leg and was severely injured. Vejay Masih, the son of Niamat Masih, who was already a patient of cancer, was “pistol whipped” in his forehead. Other Christians were also injured in the violence. The attackers shot up Christian houses for an hour and left the Colony with the severe threats to Christians. They said they were to burn their houses like Joseph Colony if they took legal action against them.
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