Two years after Muslim attacks on Christians in the Jalanwara region of Pakistan’s Punjab state, they hope that hope for justice will become darker amidst the thwarting efforts of the prosecutors, supporters said.
None of the perpetrators have been convicted after looting and causing damage to more than 25 church buildings and 85 Christian homes in Jalanwarateshir in Faisalabad district on August 16, 2023.
Two years ago, after two Christian brothers were accused of writing profanity and secing the Quran, thousands of Muslim riots attacked. The attack sparked nationwide condemnation, with over 300 Muslims arrested for the riot. Most were rescued or discharged from hospital due to defective police investigations.
On June 4, the Faisalabad counterterrorism court acquitted 10 suspects involved in burning church buildings and looting Christian homes during the violence. The petitioner’s lawyers accused the police of their innocence despite strong evidence against the suspect. He previously told Christian Daily International Morning Star News that a similar verdict is expected in the remaining cases related to the attack.
Various protest rallies were held in Jalanwara, Lahore, Karachi and other cities on Saturday, August 16th, raising new calls for government action two years after the attack. The main event was held in Jalanwara by the victims committee, where community leaders criticized the government for not prosecuting violent people effectively.
The speaker also said he was critical of the negative role that some Christians play, causing damage to legal cases at the request of government authorities.
“We are extremely disappointed as all assailants are released on bail or because police investigations are weak, they acquitted the charges,” said committee convener Lara Robin Daniel. “Some victims have yet to receive the financial compensation and rehabilitation promised by the government after the incident. At present, efforts are being made to divide the Jalanwara community and undermine the incident.”
He said the victims committee has decided to organize sit-in demonstrations in various areas of Jalanwara to draw attention to the government’s light letter.
“We appeal to all Christians in Jalanwara to hold sit-in demonstrations in their towns until our demands are met by the government,” he added. “We will continue to maintain peace and use social media to remind our government of what US justice owes.”
Rwadari Tehreek (Equality Movement) Chairman Samson Salamat said that some Christians not only are using the light letter of Jalanwara victims to raise money fraudulently for themselves, but also regret damaging the incident.
“We are disappointed that there are no church leaders or politicians at this gathering today to show solidarity with the victims,” Saramato said. “Even the Punjabi Prime Minister, who calls the Punjab minority the Jewel of the Punjab crown, has not visited Jalanwara to express her support or investigate the progress of the incident.”
Saramato warned Christians in Jalanwara to remain vigilant against attempts to divide the community.
“You will remain immobilized in pursuing justice for two years and we believe your commitment will not waver in the future,” he said. “We assure you of our full support in this struggle.”
As government leaders and others criticize religious minorities in Pakistan for being safe, Saramato said that two years of justice delay in Jalanwara exposed the false narrative.
In Lahore, protests were included that were organized outside the Lahore Press Club. Christian activists Gazala Shafik and Luke Victor called for severe punishment for the perpetrators of Jalanwara’s violence.
“The Jalanwara incident is a cruel reminder of the deep intolerance and systemic discrimination facing Pakistani Christians,” they said at a press conference. “The government’s failure to punish the accused, even two years later, and its inaction against extremist groups, put a question mark on the state’s commitment to protecting minorities.”
Cecil and Iris Chaudhry Foundation Chairman Michelle Chaudhry said in a statement that mob and police have repeatedly set precedents of vigilante fraud.
“While Pakistani Christians did not attempt to commit a blasphemy, the dangers posed by misuse of the blasphemy law and the failure of state agencies to act promptly to protect their citizens have been exposed multiple times,” Chaudhry said. “Today, we call on the Pakistani government to ensure that all perpetrators of this heinous crime have been brought to trial and that Jalanwara survivors receive the promised comprehensive rehabilitation, financial compensation and long-term support.”
He said the immunity for violence against Pakistan’s religious minorities must be concluded, requiring the government to take urgent and meaningful measures to reform laws that are misused to target vulnerable communities, particularly profanity clauses.
Amnesty International said out of the 5,213 suspects arrested in the Jalanwara riots, 380 were arrested, while 4,833 were arrested. A year after the attack, 228 of the arrested suspects were released on bail and 77 suspects were charged against them, according to Babu Ram Pant, Associate Regional Director of South Asia at Amnesty International, at that time, “despite the assurance of accountability authorities, significant unstable behavior is being hampered.
Bloody accusations are common in Pakistan, and those convicted of the charge of humiliation of Muhammad, the Islamic prophet, could be sentenced to death. Authorities have not yet been sentenced to death for blasphemy, but often the accusations alone can cause riots and incite violence to incite violence.
The two Christian brothers of Jalanwara were acquitted of blasphemous asp guilty after the anti-terrorist court ruled that it was framed by another Christian following a personal dispute.
Pakistan ranked 8th on the 2025 World Watchlist, where it’s the hardest place to become a Christian.
