By BosNewsLife Asia Service
LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)– At least 13 people, including women and children, were injured Wednesday, July 1, when local Muslims set on fire some 100 Christian homes and churches east of the Pakistani city of Lahore, Christian rights investigators said.
International Christian Concern (ICC) told BosNewsLife that its partners rushed to the scene in the city of Kasur South to help injured Christians trapped in the riots. ICC said the violence was sparked by “broadcasts from local mosques”, although it was not immediately clear what was allegedly said.
The incident is similar to a February 1997 attack when thousands of Christian houses and churches were burned and hundreds of Christians were injured, ICC added.
“ICC partners received the news this morning and went immediately to the scene to help injured Christians transferred to Lahore, renting two mini vans for this purpose. So far 9 burned women and 4 children have been transferred to Lahore for further medical treatment,” the group said in a statement.
ICC investigators said all of them were injured when Muslim mobs apparently threw acid on them. Local police reportedly arrived on the scene, but ICC said “the situation is out of control as thousands of Muslims have gathered for this purpose.”
The group said it has urged its supporters around the world to contact their Pakistani embassies to ask them to protect the Christians in Kasur South.
Wednesday’s reported violence came amid several reported anti-Christian incidents in Punjab province, to which the city belongs.
I AM NOT SHOCKED ANY MORE WHEN I READ SUCH NEWS AS THESE KIND OF INCIDENCES ARE EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE, I JUST HOPE AND PRAY THAT OUR CHRISTIANS BROTHERS AND SISTERS WILL KEEP STRONG IN THEIR FAITH BECAUSE OUR GOD WILL DELIVERY! MY ONLY OTHER CONCERN IS THAT THE WESTERN WORLD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IN THE ASIAN SUBCONTINENT, AS MUSLIMS HAVE EVERY RIGHT POSSIBLE IN WESTERN SOCIETY.
GOD BLESS