Following a violent protest against a blatant act of disrespect towards the Quran in Jaranwala, enraged demonstrators have attacked Christian neighbourhoods, setting multiple homes ablaze, and even resorting to vandalism in government buildings apart from destroying properties in Christian colonies. Authorities have called in Rangers to restore order, as the situation remains volatile.
A local official shared with BBC that the sequence of protests began on Wednesday morning when news of a visible desecration of Quranic pages spread through the town, both within the city and on social media. This led to an agitated group assembling near Cinema Chowk around 9 AM.
According to BBC's Hamaira Khanol, an official stated that this fervent mob has destroyed two Gurudwaras. Initially, a church was targeted in the Essa Nagri area, and further, a church located more than a kilometre away from it, near the telephone exchange, also became a target.
The official highlighted that Jaranwala is a small town where Christians make up about five percent of the population, most of whom reside in Essa Nagri. Homes of these individuals were broken into and set on fire during the attack. After the incident, Jaranwala SHO Shaukat Masih, who had been removed from his post earlier, informed BBC via phone that "Between 8 to 9 AM, amidst an agitated mob, a protest and arson took place in Essa Nagri."
He also reported that "the mob was armed with sticks and another group attacked the AC Office (Assistant Commissioner's Office) in Jaranwala." Authorities are currently working to control the situation, and around 150 young Rangers from Lahore are being sent to Jaranwala for reinforcement.
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