State stands with oppressed not the tyrant, PM Kakar assures Christian community in Jaranwala

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Monday pledged to protect minorities during a visit to the Jaranwala, situated near industrial city Faisalabad, where a Muslim mob last week burnt over a dozen churches and damaged nearly 100 homes following accusations two Christians had desecrated the Qur’an.
Earlier, top Court’s senior puisne Justice Qazi Faez Isa also visited Jaranwala on Saturday to inquire after the local Christian community after 19 churches and several homes were torched in the neighbourhood by a mob enraged over blasphemy allegations. During his visit, Justice Isa said: “If anyone attacks churches, it is the responsibility of Muslims [to catch] the attackers.” While speaking to members of the Christian community, Justice Isa expressed, “It is the Muslims who should help you as they have the greatest responsibility.” He asked, “Why leave everything to the state?”
Media reported saying Wednesday’s attack was one of the most destructive in the country’s history, with the violence drawing nationwide condemnation and PM Kakar ordering the arrest of all those linked to the rioting. The two Christians accused of blasphemy are being investigated and police say they have so far detained 160 people in connection with the attacks that residents and government officials have said were led by the outlawed religious-political party, the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan. TLP has denied the accusations, saying it tried to calm the mob.
“I just want to assure you that not only if it happens to Christian minorities but whether they be Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Ahmadis or any other minorities, whenever a person or a group attacks their lives or property, you will find the state and its laws [standing] with the oppressed, not the tyrant,” Kakar told a gathering of the Christian community in Jaranwala.
“You [minorities] complete the face of Pakistan … We [Muslims] are in the majority but we do not believe in majoritarianism.”  The provincial government said in a statement on Sunday that compensation of two million rupee ($6,751.05) has been approved for each of the affected families. A 24-member committee to foster interfaith harmony was also announced by the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) and the Church of Pakistan, comprising leaders from both the Muslim and Christian faiths.
Paramilitary forces have been guarding Christian places of worship in Jaranwala since the violence. The sites attacked included the historic Salvation Army Church and Saint Paul Catholic Church, three smaller churches and scores of houses.  A Christian graveyard was also desecrated, residents and community leaders said, adding that the mob armed with iron rods, sticks, bricks, knife and daggers went on the rampage without any intervention by police and administration authorities who were present there for over 10 hours.