44 booked in Sargodha following mob assault on Christian man

SARGODHA: Police in Sargodha have booked 44 people in connection with a mob attack on a Christian man accused of defiling the Holy Quran in Mujahid Colony, officials revealed on Sunday.

The police intervened on Saturday to rescue the accused man and two Christian families from a violent mob intent on lynching him and attacking the homes of other community members.

The incident was triggered when residents found burnt pages of the Quran near an electric pole close to the Christian family’s homes.

According to Dawn.com, an FIR was filed hours after the incident, citing multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), including Section 324 (attempted murder), 186 (obstructing public officials), 353 (assaulting public officials), 436 (mischief by fire with intent to destroy a house), 440 (mischief by fire with intent to cause death or injury), and 149 (unlawful assembly). Charges under Section 7 (terrorism) and 11WW (lynching) of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997 were also included.

According to the FIR filed by Station House Officer (SHO) Shahid Iqbal, a crowd armed with sticks and stones gathered outside the victim’s house, attempting to force entry. Police, along with the Sargodha Peace Committee and other residents, tried to calm the mob, which had swelled to 300-400 people, but were unsuccessful.

The mob set fire to a nearby shoe factory and attempted to breach the victim’s house from adjoining rooftops. They also destroyed electricity meters and outdoor AC units, which were subsequently set ablaze.

SHO Iqbal and other officers managed to extricate the victim from his burning house, but they were surrounded by the mob, which pelted them with stones and beat them with sticks, severely injuring the Christian man.

The FIR noted that women were among those inciting the mob and encouraging violence.

Rizwan Younus Gill, a nephew of the accused man, told Dawn on Saturday that his uncle was in stable condition. He mentioned a recent altercation between his cousins and a Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) activist, which had been resolved through negotiations, denying any desecration allegations.

District Police Officer (DPO) Assad Ejaz Malhi commended head constable Aneesur Rehman for his heroic efforts in protecting the Christian families. He stated that additional police units were deployed across the city to ensure the community’s safety.

The Punjab police announced on X that security at churches across the province had been heightened on the orders of Inspector General of Police Dr. Usman Anwar. “Diligent police officers are on duty for the security of Christian places of worship,” the statement read.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mohammad Faisal Kamran inspected church security in Lahore and expressed satisfaction with the arrangements, according to a post from his office on X.