(August 13, 2009) Peace activists predict that extremists may target more Christian
communities unless the government changes its policies and laws. "I am afraid to
say it, but we may expect more attacks in areas where Christians are a sizeable number,"
said Father Emmanuel Yousaf Mani, national director of the Catholic Bishop's National
Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP). "We have never believed in guns," he said,
adding that "it is time to bring about a peaceful revolution."Father Mani was speaking
at an NCJP seminar on August 12, titled "Extremism and Law," at the Human Rights Commission
of Pakistan (HRCP) auditorium. The program started with a minute's silence in memory
of 10 Catholics killed in rioting in the Punjab city of Gojra and the nearby village
of Korian on July 30th and August 1st. Blasphemy laws make
an insult to the Qur'an an offense punishable by up to life imprisonment, while giving
the death penalty for anyone convicted of insulting Prophet Muhammad. A press statement
was also issued at the event in which the NCJP demanded the abolition of laws that
provoke hatred, the amendment of discriminatory articles in the constitution, and
the arrest of those who kill in the name of religion, among other matters.According
to the commission, 25 Christians have been killed for their faith since 1972. Earlier,
special prayers were held in churches and protest rallies organized throughout the
country to mark Aug. 11, Minorities' Day, as a day of mourning. The government has
set up two medical stations in the affected areas where 1,847 Christian patients have
been treated so far. It has promised to reconstruct the damaged houses in the affected
area.