Justice Isa makes solidarity visit to Jaranwala

Incoming chief justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa visited Jaranwala tehsil in Faisalabad district on Saturday to inquire after the native Christian group after 19 church buildings and a number of other houses have been torched within the neighborhood by a mob enraged over blasphemy allegations.

Justice Isa, who’s slated to guide the Supreme Courtroom from September 17, a day after incumbent CJP Umar Ata Bandial’s retirement, was briefed by the police and district administration at Danish College.

A senior journalist took to X, previously Twitter, to share video footage of Justice Isa’s go to to the vandalized church buildings, the place he met with members of the Christian group.

On August 16, a charged mob, incited over the loudspeakers of a neighborhood mosque, stormed the neighborhood ransacking and torching not less than 19 church buildings and over 80 residences moreover terrorizing members of the Christian group.

Accused of standing by as silent spectators as a mob of 5,000 to six,000 individuals armed with petrol, push carts and batons unfold terror and panic within the city all day, the Punjab Police arrested not less than 145 suspected rioters, together with two prime suspects, out of the 1,470 individuals booked in 5 FIRs.

The looting, burning and ransacking of Christian houses and locations of worship sparked nationwide outrage.

Earlier within the day, the Punjab Police booked not less than three native Christians over blasphemy allegations and tried to barter with the Muslim mob, which was reportedly chanting Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) slogans.

Learn Govt, TLP comply with stringent anti-blasphemy measures

The subsequent day, a number of non secular clerics issued a condemnation of the incident.

Throughout his go to, Justice Isa mentioned, “If anybody assaults church buildings, it’s the duty of Muslims [to catch] the attackers”.

Whereas talking to members of the Christian group, the senior puisne SC choose mentioned he doesn’t “talk with journalists” attributable to his career and mentioned that it’s the Muslims who ought to aid you as they’ve the best duty.

“Why go away every little thing to the state?” he requested, distributing meals packets, which he acknowledged have been akin to a “drop within the ocean” after asking a Christian chief to see who wanted assist essentially the most in line with their monetary standing and accordingly disburse them.

He inquired from native residents about which different areas have been in want of assist and requested to be taken there.

In a press release issued after his go to to Jaranwala, Justice Isa quoted verses from the Holy Quran and recalled occasions from historical past the place Muslim non secular leaders had proven respect to Christianity.

Muslims have been advised to face up in opposition to those that harmed church buildings, he mentioned.

Referring to Articles 295 and 295-A of the Structure of Pakistan, Justice Isa added that an individual who “damage the non secular sentiments of anybody” is liable to be punished.

He additional burdened that the actions of the mob in Jaranwala have been in violation of the Structure and the teachings of Islam, which requires peace and tolerance.