SW News:

In Pakistan, several Catholic Church leaders have sought protection for the Christian community after a banned group issued threats against the backdrop of the burning of a Quran in Sweden. The Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has called for retaliatory suicide attacks on Christians over the burning of the holy book of Muslims.

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is also branding the nation’s Christians as Western agents, which is often the case with members of the Muslim majority in the Asian country. According to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Pakistan, the National Commission for Justice and Peace has informed the authorities concerned about the threat issued by the banned group. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has also gone on record saying they will make the nation a “hell for Christianity”.

The Director of the Commission for Interfaith Dialogue and Ecumenism of the Diocese of Faisalabad Fr Khalid Asi held a meeting with police officials during which he sought protection for the Christians in the country. He also alerted all the priests to be in touch with the police for the protection of parishes, convents, schools and other establishments.

Speaking to UCA News, Fr Asi said the burning of the Muslim holy book should stop. “As humans, we must all respect the holy books and strive for a culture of peace and harmony,” he said. The priest also cited the 2009 anti-Christian uprising in the province of Punjab when 10 Catholics were killed by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi supporters while attacking their houses. This occurred after there were reports of the desecration of a copy of the Quran.

According to Naeem Yousaf Gill, the executive director of the Bishops’ Commission, the Church in the country has condemned the burning of the Quran in Sweden that took place last week. “As a religious minority, we live in brotherhood and peace and have always supported the majority. We can’t imagine violating sensitive laws,” Vatican News quoted him as saying.