Pakistani Muslims and Christians clash leaving 1 dead, 2 injured

29 April, 2013 - A quarrel between a Christian and a Muslim friend in Pakistan’s Punjab Province turned violent on Saturday, resulting in a shootout that left a person dead and two wounded. The names of the two feuding friends have been withheld for security reasons. Following the quarrel over the hiring of a threshing machine, the Christian received a gun wound in the neck, to which Christians responded by killing the Muslim. This unleashed the wrath of the Muslim community against the Christian village Chak No. 31/10R in Khanewal District. After local police failed to check the rioting, paramilitary forces brought it under control after more than an hour, arresting members of both factions. For Fr. Aher Javed, a Catholic priest who lives in the area, the attack "shows that religious intolerance is growing and hatred towards each other has become common". Condemning petty disputes that bring enormous suffering to the entire community, Fr. Javed called on authorities to ensure the security to religious minorities. Sunday’s Mass was held on a regular basis, but with the presence of paramilitary troops. (Source: AsiaNews)