http://groups.yahoo.com/group/socialist_pakistan_news/message/15507
Violence against Christians in Gojra , Pakistan , Eight killed, 19 injured, 60 houses demolished More than three thousand armed people attacked on Christian homes in Gojra Christian town on August 1, 2009, town situated in diocese on Faisalabad, after the earlier attack on Christian houses in Village Korian, 5 to 6 km from Gojra town on 30th July. More than one thousand people held a procession in the main city of the Gojra town at about 8:30 AM on August 1, 2009. They were demanding death sentence of Talib Masih who is charged of false blasphemy in village Korian. Thousands of Muslims attacked on Christians in Gojra after the procession and opened fire on the innocent Christian people indiscriminately. The Christians being week could not resist attack and more then 60 houses completely burned and looted from the houses and set every thing on fire. A Pentecostal Church situated in Christian Town was completely burned. One Hameed Mashi, 50, who was fired with a bullet in his head died at the spot. His family members were gathered around his dead body. The extremists reached there and threw. All of them died and completely burned. Two women were present at their home and they were also set on fire. They also died at the spot. 18 people have been injured. And they are hospitalized with no care in the hospital. Following are the names of the dead: 1.. Hameed Mashi 2. Akhlas Mashi 3. Asfa Bibi 4. Victoria Ashi 5. Seema Bibi 6. Umia Bibi 7. Unknown Child. The situation in Gojra is still tense. There are announcements continued in the mosques about attacking the Christian Colonies and Villages in this area. Non-cooperation from the district administration and negligence of the law enforcement agencies has caused this problem. The immature attitude of the Christian political leadership has added to the misery (Poor Christians of Gojra seeking your help and support) Reported By : Shahzad Francis Program Coordinator BETHAK- Pakistan St # 8, Hostel Road Khurampura Colony Khanewal � 58150 Punjab, Pakistan 92-65-2556179
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/socialist_pakistan_news/message/15513
Dear all,
The unfortunate incident in Gojra is not a fight between the two groups, as was
broad casted by geo and other television channels.
It was an attack by a Muslim fanatic group on Christian community in Gojra. The
police and other state agencies knew very well what could happen, they just let
the homes of the minorities burnt. They failed to protect the most exploited
section of Pakistan, the Christians. Police knew that there could be an attack,
they knew that there is going to be a general strike called by fanatics, still
no protective measures were taken. Only a day before, another 50 houses of
Christians were burnt.
After the initial misunderstanding that some Christian has burnt the pages of
Quran in a village called Korian, a local gathering was held at the village. It
became clear that nothing of this sort has been done by the accused Christians.
The local gathering of the village with Muslim and Christians resolved the issue
amicably.
The second day, a mob of around 200 under the leadership of Molvi Noor Mohammed
of Suni Tehreek, and others from Ahle Sunnat, Anjman Sapahi Sahaba, and other
religious fanatic groups came to village. They were all from different
Madrasses, and there are plenty of them in Gojra. This mob went on rampage. This
mob burnt the homes and were not stopped by police. It was an open hand to the
fanatics.
The fanatics gave another call of a general strike in Gojra city for 1st August.
This was printed in all the national newspapers. Police did not take any
preventive measures. They did not cordon the area where the Christian community
is living in Gojra, around 5000 of them.
The mob again went to burn the homes of Christians. Shabir Ahmad, LPP leader in
Gojra, told me "had I and some other would have not dared to stop the fanatics
youth from burning further homes, the causalities would have been more than 7".
The power loom workers associated with Labour Qaumi Movement, a labour
organization built by LPP and others, came to rescue the Christian community.
Labour Party Pakistan has a reasonable base in Gojra. It has built unions and
led workers struggle. There has been many battles of workers and bosses aided by
local gangsters during the last four years. The LPP workers has always stood for
workers unity. They are known for defending minority rights. They are loved by
the Christian community of the region. Many Christian workers are also members
of LPP. This work has paid off yesterday when they were able to safe some lives.
Shabir told me that he has seen the death in front of him. Yet, we were ready to
sacrifice our selves for workers unity. Several of us prevented the fanatic
youth fro further actions. We poured the most dirtiest water from the nearby
Nalaas, to stop the burning of homes. There was no fire brigade.
I have studied in Gojra college for two years after my schooling in Toba Tek
Singh from 1969 to 1971. There was no such incidents at the time. Muslims and
Christians were living side by side peacefully. Since the introduction of
blasphemy laws, several such incidents have been reported in Gojra during the
last 20 years. Labour party pakistan stands for abolition of blasphemy laws. It
must go to avoid further deaths and violence.
Farooq Tariq
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