PAKISTAN’S prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Monday visited the violence-hit Jaranwala town in Punjab province and handed out a compensation of Rs.2 million each to around 100 Christian families whose homes were burnt down along with 21 churches by a mob of radical Islamists last week.
The mob ransacked and torched 21 churches and several Christian houses last week over blasphemy allegations in Jaranwala town of Faisalabad district, 130 km away from Lahore. A Christian cemetery and the office of the local assistant commissioner were also vandalized.
Kakar visited Jaranwala to express solidarity with the victims of the Christian community, where he distributed cheques worth two million rupees each (USD 6,800) to the affected people.
He assured all the minority communities in the country that the government is committed to protecting their lives and properties as he promised to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crimes against Christians to justice.
“If anyone causes harm to the minorities, the law of the country will take its course by ensuring that such incidents should not happen in future,” he said.
The prime minister also reviewed the renovation work of churches and other structures that were damaged by the mob.
Speaking on the occasion, Punjab’s caretaker chief minister Mohsin Naqvi said the main culprits of the Jaranwala incident have been apprehended.
“The damaged churches will be restored while the compensation cheques will be handed over to all the families,” he said.
