Gojra incidents, a black scar on Pak Christian history, says civil society body

Lahore, Aug.2 (ANI): The Gojra incident that took place on July 30 and August 1 last year will always remain a black scar in the history of the Pakistan Christian community, claimed the Community Development Initiative (CDI).

Speaking on the occasion of the first anniversary of the incident in which seven Christians were burnt alive, around 100 Christian houses were burnt and another 100 were ransacked and looted, over allegations of blasphemy, CDI Executive Director Asif Aqeel was quoted by the Daily Times, as saying: "There is a need for all sections of society to rise above social biases and condemn such madness in the name of religion, which not only defies the country's law and rule of law, but also brings to shame the entire humanity."

Aqeel said that if a person is accused of any crime, the court should give its verdict. He said the country has a blasphemy law, though it is controversial. Hence, he said, terrorists had no excuse to take law into their own hands. Somewhere, the government machinery either fails or even aids such elements in committing such crimes, he added.

"Taking this opportunity, we want to ask why a judicial inquiry into the Gojra incident had been carried out if no action was to be taken," Aqeel said. (ANI)