Welfare organization to reconstruct damaged homes in Jaranwala

FAISALABAD: Pakistani welfare organisation Al Khidmat has initiated the reconstruction of Christian homes that were destroyed in the Jaranwala tragedy on August 16.

A violent mob had set fire to numerous churches and houses in the local Christian colony in Jaranwala, Faisalabad following blasphemy allegations last week, drawing widespread outrage and calls for action against the perpetrators.

On August 24, a video was uploaded to the Twitter and Tiktok accounts of the non-governmental non-profit organisation Al Khidmat, which has been providing humanitarian aid in Pakistan and was officially registered in 1990.

The video shared on their social media accounts shows a damaged street in the unfortunate neighborhood before settling on a young smiling girl by the name of Maryam, whose house is being rebuilt.

An earlier video of Maryam in tears, as Jamat-e-Islami leader Siraj ul Haq comforted her over the loss of her home, circulated on Twitter on August 22.

Jamat-e-Islami leader Siraj ul Haq paid a visit to Jaranwala where he extended support to the marginalized Christian community by assisting in the reconstruction of their homes.

During his visit, he also took a moment to console a young girl who was in tears over the loss of… pic.twitter.com/GAqMwyfNuG

— RASALA.PK (@rasalapk) August 22, 2023

Her visage in the new video could not be more different, as she thanks Al Khidmat endearingly for their help at the prompting of the videographer. Next to her stand two men that the videographer identifies as Ikram Sahab and Saeed Sahab. Ikram ul Haq Subhani is acting President of the Central Punjab branch of Al Khidmat.

He earlier visited affected families, spoke to Christian leaders, and commended his volunteers for providing food and water in Jaranwala.

Many netizens responded to the video to laud the welfare campaign.

Christian minority rights activist Mickey Gill tweeted to term the organisation a “very fine machine when it comes to [sic] welfare project and help in the time of immediate need.” Gill revealed that he had witnessed and participated in Al Khidmat’s work in the past, adding that he “would bank on them any day.”

جڑانوالہ میں مریم کے گھر سے…

2، 3 روز قبل ایک کلپ بہت وائرل ہوا جس میں بچی روتے ہوئے کہہ رہی تھی کہ آپ ہمارے گھر آئیں، ہمیں انصاف دیں.. بچی دراصل اپنا گھر کی تباہ کاری دکھانا چاہ رہی تھی..
آج جڑانوالہ میں اسی بستی میں الخدمت فاؤنڈیشن نے ریسورس اوسموسس واٹر فلٹریشن پلانٹ کا… pic.twitter.com/Ie9rgrDgRv

— Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan (@AlkhidmatOrg) August 24, 2023

Along with the reconstruction of homes, Al Khidmat has also set the construction of a new water filtration plant in motion and planted saplings in Jaranwala.

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