APMA Chief for promoting culture of tolerance, interfaith harmony
Christians to protest on 20th

ISLAMABAD—"The Christians of Pakistan with observe 'Day of Protest, Prayers and Fasting' on 20 December 2005, when the Christian community at Sangala Hill shall complete it's 40 days mourning, as practiced in the culture. This day will be observed to condemn the lawlessness and intolerance in the name of religion and on callous attitude of authorities for not arresting the real culprits." This was announced by All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) Chairman, Mr Shahbaz Bhatti, at a press conference held here this Friday.
He mentioned that the incident took place on 12 November 2005, when a Christian man, Yousaf Masih was falsely alleged for desecration of Holy Quran, followed by the announcements in different Mosques of Sangala Hill, urging Muslims to attack Christians. The mob of approximately 5000 people including teenaged Madrassa students attacked Christian Colony with weapons, patrol and highly flammable chemicals, sticks and batons. The Roman Catholic Church, two United Presbyterian Churches, Sisters' Convent, St. Anthony High School, Girls' Hostel, some Christian homes and Catholic priest and Pastors' residences were set on fire at Basti Asyia, Sangala Hill, at District Nanakana. Approximately 500 hundred Holy Bibles, Christian literature, Crosses, and other Christian sacred material, even the school books including the Islamic studies books and copies of Holy Quran were also set to blaze by the mob.
He pointed out that on the protest and demand of Church leaders, organizations and local Christians of Sangala Hill, the Chief Minister Punjab visited the site on the 6th day of the incident. He promised to launch a judicial inquiry headed by the Judge of High court and directed immediate arrest of all culprits involved in the attack. He also suspended local police officials for their negligence. But the key culprits nominated by the Church leaders and local Christian community of Sangala Hill are not arrested yet. Government set up an inquiry commission under the District Session Judge, Nankana instead of the Judge of High Court. The Session Judge recorded statements of Christians and Muslims in the area and completed his investigation on 28 November 2005, which has not been made public.
Mr. Bhatti lamented that the Government authorities have done nothing to defuse the tension and failed to repair the situation. Rather, they were protecting the instigators of mob violence. Procedural delays meant vital evidence has been lost, which has made the judicial process ineffective. Over all the situation of Christians at Sangala Hill is worrisome as people are living in the atmosphere of fear and insecurity. They are frightened because the real culprits are still at large. He said that All Pakistan minorities Alliance (APMA) along with Church leaders and Christian organizations demand to end religious intolerance promoting wide spread menace in the society. "The culprits of Sangala Hill incident should be arrested immediately and trial of the culprits be conducted in the anti-terrorist court. The report of the judicial inquiry should be made public with out any further delay. Yousaf Masih should be released and all charges against him should be dropped. People who made announcements by Mosque amplifier to provoke people to attack Churches and Christian community should be punished. Discriminatory laws such as blasphemy laws, a major tool for creating disharmony should be repealed. Reconciliation efforts between people of different faith should be made to eliminate violence in the name of religion or sectarian", he demanded.
Bishop Anthony Lobo, Secretary General Catholic Bishop's Conference said, "Discriminatory laws and intolerance are the barriers in the progress of interfaith harmony and reconciliation. We must accelerate our efforts to establish a society based upon the principles of founding father." Pastor Tajamel of Presbyterian Church Sangala Hill, Fr. Samson Dilawar of catholic Church Sangala Hill, Mr. Perveez Rafique (MPA), Naveed Amir (MPA), Mrs. Najmi Saleem (MPA), Mr. Haroon Fate-Jhang (Councillor Sangala Hill), Chaudhry Azariah Shujah Advocate, along with other representatives of various Christian organizations, were also present at the press conference.—PR