Officials in Faisalabad have successfully restored 20 churches that were vandalized during a mob attack in Jaranwala city in August this year, triggered by allegations of blasphemy, as confirmed by a government spokesperson speaking to international reporters.
At the request of the Acting Chief Minister of Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi, a group of international journalists was invited to tour Jaranwala tehsil the day before. The delegation was greeted by Faisalabad’s Deputy Commissioner, Abdullah Nayyer Sheikh, and Chief Police Officer Muhammad Ali Zia.
The deputy commissioner briefed the journalists about the rehabilitation of victims in the Jaranwala incident and the repairing of churches.
Sheikh said that the government had paid financial aid of Rs2 billion to each family, adding that the victims have re-settled in their houses peacefully.
The DC also appreciated Muslim and Christian leaders for their cooperation in establishing peace in the city. He said divisional, district and tehsil-level peace committees played a key role in this regard.
On August 16, the mob assault took place in Jaranwala city after two Christians were accused of desecrating the Holy Quran.
Following the incident, police have registered 222 complaints while over 300 people have been arrested.
