Pakistan Church dissatisfied over slow prosecution of rioters

(September 3, 2009) Church leaders have expressed disappointment over the lack of progress in legal action against perpetrators of anti-Christian rioting in Punjab province. "We are very much disappointed with the legal proceedings," said Archbishop Lawrence J. Saldanha, head of the Catholic Church in Pakistan. "A month has passed since the massacre and yet none of the accused has been punished. I am afraid the culprits will go scot-free and the case will be put in cold storage." Christians in the Muslim-majority country are continuing to hold protest rallies and press conferences after 10 Catholics were killed in rioting in the Punjab city of Gojra and in the nearby village of Korian. A Muslim mob vandalized and looted 113 Christian houses and damaged four Protestant churches in these areas on July 30 and August 1st. Tensions arose after pages containing Islamic inscriptions were found in front of a Christian home in Korian. Muslims accused the family of blasphemy against Islam. Police have detained 103 Muslims for attacking the Christians. Hearings are taking place at a special anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad, which has turned down all bail applications to date. According to Father John Murad, vicar general of Hyderabad diocese, the Church is still waiting for justice. "The early development is very slow and none of the terrorists have been condemned. It is not a good sign and seems that the struggle against the blasphemy laws will be a long one.” According to Archbishop Saldanha, "words alone" cannot guarantee the safety of Christians who constitute a tiny religious minority in the country.