Pak human rights body condemns killing of Christians in Gojra

Lahore, Aug 4 (ANI): The Human Rights Society of Pakistan (HRSP) has condemned the brutal killing of innocent Christians in Gojra.

According to a statement issued on Monday, the HRSP said these incidents had occurred in the name of alleged blasphemy of the Quran.

The HRSP demanded punishment for those involved in Saturday's riots, not only according to the Pakistan Penal Code, but also according to other sections, as they had violated the teachings of the Quran.

The HRSP has told the Christian community that instead of considering themselves a minority, they should think of themselves as citizens with full rights, as they possessed the same rights as Muslims did.

Members of the HRSP said they expected the Punjab government to take action and penalise the criminals.

The attack on Christian families in Gojra in central Pakistan, the culmination of several days of rioting over a claim that a Quran had been defiled, shows how insecure life is for the tiny Christian minority in the country.

More than 100 Christian houses were burned and looted on Saturday in a rampage that lasted about eight hours by a crowd the authorities estimate was as large as 20,000 strong.

In addition to the seven members of the Hameed family who were killed, about 20 people were wounded. (ANI)