I dont have any suitable words to condole with the grieved families. The so called Holy Men who did all this in the name of the Most High are already being punished by Him through His own measures in and around the world. We must not forget that this law is not to be practiced in the favour of any Prophet, rather this law existed during the period of Jewish History. One must not forget that Jesus Christ was crucified because he was convicted due to the same law. It is therefore pertinent to note that this law only comes into play when the Holy Name of The Creator Of This World is violated. No one can be considered above His Holy Name. There is also another point to be noted which is very important and that is conversions. One should not forget that in this part of the world there was one religion which is called Hinduism (though in different forms), then came others including Islam. In the end came Christianity. All problems started from here. The Hindus were converted to Christians and so were the Muslims. Now Christians are under the Swords of both these Religions. This will go on unless the Law it self is not repealed and the culprits be punished within 30 days. It must not be bailable offence and in case of deaths then capital punishment must be guaranteed.

Promote equality. We as muslims cry for religous freedom world over and protest againt descriminations but what we are doing in our back yard? Is there any religious freedom for others in Muslim countires? we should go secular and stop swering by the god in all occations. All those who born here has equal right on this land no matter what God he/she believes in. Religion is a drug which we are addicted to. Let Chrstians be Chrsitans and Muslims be Muslims. have these values inbibed in young mind and close down all Maddrassas if these kind of incidents need not be repeated.

End the bigotry over the next 30 years and maybe a new generation of earth friendly and divirsity loving Pakistanis will contribute to making this a better world for all. e.g. Do not insist that the only worthy human beings have to be Muslims. This is forcing billions to think just the opposite.

Will the real Pakistanis please stand up and even be prepared to die for the real cause, the enemy within! Not the non sensical reasons we hear with their origins from 1000 years ago!

How can we prevent a repeat of the Gojra attacks? Gojra attack and other similar attacks conveniently disguised as blasphemy or some other devious not to mention dubious pretexts are symptoms of socio/economic deficiencies. “An idle mind is the devils workshop” and Pakistan it seems is the biggest workshop devil has going for him at the moment.

Economic disenchantment, soaring illiteracy coupled with a peoples who wear their religion on their sleeve is a lethal cocktail ready to go off any time.

What amazes me about our people is the complete lack of ownership for anything in life. Everything is pre-ordained and any effort to do other wise is an exercise in futility. Fate accompli is the fate all have seemingly reconciled with.

God must wonder about the state of mind of the particular species he/it created as Pakistani’s and to a great extent Indians as well. Self pity and misplaced faith are the credo by which most in the sub-continent rule (ruin) their lives.

To me blasphemy is assigning blame to Allah for the failings and misgivings by saying “bus Khuda kee marzee nahee thee”. God must wonder; how did I enter this scenario? You goofed off and failed and I get blamed for it. That doesn’t sound fair to me. Come to think of it I would like to add an addendum to the draconian blasphemy law. From now on anyone who utters the above sentence of (dis)crediting Allah with their failures should be immediately and forthwith punished severely in the public square, heck public circle or any other geometric shape convenient for performing the blessed event.

Get people busy with work and a sense of direction and you would soon enough find the local mullah in queue applying for unemployment benefits.

My Dear Muslims Brothers.. Have tolerance for other civilizations and religions! Try to co-exist with other Cultures and Philosophies! Everybody thinks his religion is greatest… We should think that “My religion is great, other religions are also great”. You might have a list of faults of other religions… similarly others have a list of faults of Islam. Just think why so many people now think of Muslims as terrorists and Islam as violent culture… why Muslims are not being tolerated in the whole world… why why why… think my brothers … think

Hi friends, I am an indian. I dont want to comment in your internal matters. But want to share some word. All human living in this world are same. All have same 4 types of blood groups, same appearance. All are creation of god (allah) or what name you give. If god differentiates muslims with non muslims then certainly he had created non muslim with total diffrent appearance.
Certainly we dont have any right to kill any person in the name of religion.
surely religion must be diffrentiated with all types of politics, education, sports etc.
The real problem of pakistan is to joining religion with every part of life there. if pak i secular contitutionally then respect all regious books in the schools. Remember God creates all his/her child equal, only we in thi earth divided ourself between diffrent faiths and religion.

I think Gojra was a way that the world devised to beg for a post-hydrocarbon Balfour Declaration. In this respect, it was not less than the attack on the World Trade Center.

The Gojra and other incidence burning of Christian houses and lives shows a total lack of understanding of the Holy Quran.

All over Pakistan the Holy Quran is desecrated by thousands of Muslims every days in civil and criminal cases. People bear false witness putting innocent live to rot in jail. This is all done on the belief that anyone who bear false witness or a false statement under oath of the Holy Quran will be cursed by God’s word which is a double edge sword. Now when it come to allegation of desecration of the Holy Quran by Christian, Hindus or others, the Muslims take it upon themselves to annihilated the alleged culprits resulting in the loss of innocent lives and properties.

Such activities are carried-out under the order of some spiritual leadership, A Mullah, An Immam, someone who is considered to have a through understanding of the Holy Quran. Such ill-informed Mullah’s – without the knowledge of there followers are not only portraying a bad image of Islam but making whole Muslim communities commit the biggest sin and that is the sin of Shirk.

In fact not only communities but the governments under the ill-advice of the Islamic clergy have committed this sin. The Government of Pakistan committed the sin of Shirk by the enactment of Blasphemy law.

I categorically state: Blasphemy Law is an act of Shirk and should be repealed immediately.

The following is full text of the criminal code of Pakistan on Blasphemy Laws appearing at the following Web Site of United Nations. Please visit this site for full details:

It is hoped that the present government of Pakistan will repeal these laws in the interest of peace and co-existence within all Pakistanis as well as peace and co-existence with international community.

http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/0/9da54d3f22f184f1802567390039e0d6?Opendocument

Shabbir saab,
You have said that there is no country in the world that does not have blasphemy laws. Well first of all India does not have blasphemy laws. Indonesia which has the largest number of Muslims does not have a blasphemy law. Bangladesh, which was a part of Pakistan does not have blasphemy laws. In other words, out of the 4 countries that have the highest Muslim population, only one has a blasphemy law i.e. Pakistan while Indonesia, Bangladesh and India do not.

China and US do not have blasphemy laws either.
But yes Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia do have blasphemy laws.

Hi my name is ali, and i am from toba take singh. i live ten miles away where all this happened. toba take sing have long history attacking on Christians, but they were not published on newspaper, neither were air on the tv. i have seen one attack in front of my eye’s when a christian person used the bad words about our prophet, and holy book. people got together and they reported to police but no action was taken. same people got together again and beat the person badly and forced him to leave that place. after reading this you people can decide who’s fault is this, people or police.

The unfortunate murder of 9 Pakistani Christians happened during riots in a Pakistani village. It was the only such incident since Pakistan’s independence 62 years ago where Pakistani Christians and Muslims were involved in a sectarian confrontation of this nature. And now the investigators confirm it wasn’t even a religious issue as a local Muslim politician has been found involved in engineering riots in order to grab land owned by minority Pakistanis. The influential land grabber from the dominant party in the province used religion to incite violence against the innocent minority Pakistanis. This is part of the rot within the Pakistani political class.

The best part is that all Pakistanis, including the Islamic religious parties, came to Pakistani Christians’ defense. The Pakistani prime minister flew in to the village to be with Pakistani Christians, an act endorsed by all Pakistanis.

Not only justice, but extension of the best treatment to non-Muslims has been ordained. It has been explicitly explained in Surah (60)

I genuinely want to know the answer to the question, as I am not a Muslim. My understanding is that the greatness of Islam lies in recognising the fact that Man reports directly to God, without the benefit of middlemen. Islam-submission- is submission to God by Man. How can this simple and powerful concept be blashphemed? The people who accuse others of blashphemy are the blashphemers, which cannot be as Islam cannot be blashphemed.

I think most problems arise in our part of the world because people confuse tribal practices with Islam.

It is not enough to condemn. What we have do is wipe out poverty and disparity of wealth and income between the rich and poor. Economic disparity creates hatred and this kind of incidents.

We cannot prevent it. As long as political-criminal nexus exists, incidents like this will happen again and again. That is the sad truth. I am not a pessimist , I am a realist.

You can not prevent this in a state where there is no writ of the government. When will we learn that religion and politics should not mix?

It is fundamentally immoral to take a human life because of desecration of a book. Besides its literal enforcement, this law empowers all manner of extreme coercion, particularly against minorities. Repealing the blasphemy laws will dis-empower the radicals and free the police to enforce peace without qualification. Doing so is the basis for Pakistan to move forward into mutual respect for all its citizens, with resulting domestic tranquility, with all people working together for mutual prosperity. Please, take this most basic step toward human rights and decency. Do it for God’s sake.

These problems will haunt us until we do not abolish the death penalty altogether.

There is no country in the world where a blasphemy law does not exist.

Repealing blasphemy law in Pakistan will create civil unrest.

The authorities should investigate the matter as why Gojra incident occurred?

People responsible murdering Christians and burning their houses should be severely punished.

The law of the land and law of Islam both guarantee protection to the minority communities.

Ali from Lahore said “To avoid such incidents from happening again Christians in Pakistan need to learn to respect the Islamic Holy Book. If not then do not cry foul”

I believe you are belonging to those people who had done this with the innocent Christians in Gojra or you are backing such people who did this crime? There is not a single evidence in the whole history of Pakistan where Pakistani Christians disrespectful to Quran or any Holy Books. From the beginning of Pakistan their role is to build Pakistan and they always believe in “live and let live”. How could you blame? Don’t you watch the news? It is on the record that Ex Federal Minister for Minorities Ejaz-ul-Haq has categorically stated in Talat Hussain’s programme “Live with Talat” telecasted on 3rd August, 2009 that there was not a single evidence found against any Christians, and all blasphemy cases against them were false to settle the personal disputes. Here’s the Dawn link for your ready reference where provisional minister Rana Sanaullah states there was no evidence of any blasphemy, and as a result FIR is registered against the people who deliberately kill the Christians.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/13+negligence+of+officials+blamed+for+gojra+riots-za-14

Keep it in mind Pakistani Christians are Pakistani and you can not kill them in false blasphemy cases. Their security, properties and lives is the responsibility of Govt of Pakistan.

I would like to request the authorities and our Muslim brothers to please take strict actions against black sheep like Ali and other like minded people, who motivate people by showing the world scenario.

After Gojra today its Sheikhupura with the same context of ‘Tearing and Burning Quran’. The factory owner Nadeem Zafar has been killed along with a worker ,the leather factory has been set on fire.
I think its the so-called terrorists, the descendants of ‘Lashkar-e-Jhangvi’ from South Of Punjab who are behind the terrorism and the religious riots from Karachi till FATA, Swat and across Afghanistan.
They are trying to make Pakistan like ‘Yugoslavia’. This is time the sane elements must get together to foresee what is cooking up. I am sure that at the end of the day Nadeem Zafar will turn out to be Ahmadi.

I hope my ‘book’ is covered too and I am protected. I genuinely believe in the secular and human values set forth in the European Constitution. It truly tells us how to live peacefully in the 21st Century and beyond.

How long will the innocent Christians Pakistanis suffer and die on the pretense of desecration of Holy Quran?

Religious extremism is the cancer that is leading Pakistan to a slow but sure death.

Blasphemy Laws the filthy blot on the face of my beautiful country Pakistan.

Blasphemy literally means ‘insulting God’, and calling the insult of the prophet of Islam is the biggest blasphemy itself, as you have equated him to the level of God!!

What can me more blasphemous than killing innocent women & children in the name of God. Everyone involved in this attack is a blasphemer.

We Christians live in Pakistani peacefully and respect the Law of Pakistan more than Muslims and still we are treated like a third class citizens. Christians can’t disrespect any religious book because our religion only teaches us about love and tolerance.
I request all Muslim community in Pakistan, please learn to respect other religions and be human. We love Pakistan and proud to be Pakistani CHRISTIANS.
Have you ever heard any christian terrorist in Pakistan or any christian has insulted any mosque in Pakistan? The answer is ‘NO’.
So please our Pakistani Muslim brothers let CHRISTIANS live peacefully in Pakistan.

When at the moment Pakistan is being cleansed of the remnants of the dictators and the extremists/ terrorists being eliminated from the northern areas of Pakistan the government ought to keep its eyes wide open of this element now settling and operating in all four provinces as also pointed out by Altaf Hussain on several occasions. These undesirable elements and their like minded are the ones who are perpetrating brutal atrocities on the innocent and peace loving Christians. It is the best time to get rid of these monsters with devilish motives to create a never ending rift between Christians and Muslims. Exemplary punishments need to be awarded in summary trials for these butchers.Suo-moto notice should be taken by the CJ and the now independent judiciary. Christians love Pakistan with the same intensity as do the Muslims. Pakistan belongs to Christians as it does to Muslims. We too have our blood in its foundations.
This murder of poor Christians have become the norm of the day and it is the prime responsibility of the government to protect the life and property of its citizens. Blasphemy law was the invention of a dictator which should now be abolished by the government of PPP with majority in the house who should now prove to be democratic and secular as also envisaged by the founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
An immediate and effective remedy to put an end to this conspiracy of wave of attacks on Christian localities such as shanti nagar, bahmani wala, korian, gojra etc is to issue a presidential ordinance on emergency basis by means of which the blasphemy law should go back to its original position of before 1986. It should then later on be passed by the two-third majority of the house within the stipulated period. There are certain other long term remedies as well which can be and may be discussed at some other time.

All the incidents like this have been occurred due to the negligence of Govt. It is the responsibility of the Govt to punish the culprits. If it had happened in the past no body have ever dared to attack the Christians. But the irony of fate is that Christians are not treated like human beings in Pakistan. But our christian politicians , influentials, social activists and clergy do not pay heed to this crucial fact. These incidents can only be prevented by abolishing all the discriminatory laws in general and 295C in particular in Pakistan. Otherwise the think tank of Christians should devise some ways to protect the church not depending on the Govt solely.

It is very shameful and unforgivable act where Christians were burnt alive houses were destroyed. I was reading an comment from Ali Lahore that he was accusing other countries for doing awful things, Mr Ali lets clean our own backyard first, as far as I know where is My Old Pakistan gone in 70s where we used to live in Harmony. If we do not protect each another than we wont be able to protect ourselves from the foreigners troops. Thanks.

The blasphemy law must either be abolished or the flag of Pakistan has to change by removing the white part depicting the honour to be given to the minorities.

The “Mullahs” forget one thing: God sent 1,2400 Prophets to guide the humanity. Some of them were surely sent to parts of the world where Islam, Christianity or Judaism does not exist.

How can we then kill the creation of God?
We are not following the guidelines of Quran.

Pakistan has enough troubles of its own and our army busy fighting extremists who even call them anti-Islam, and with Talibanism spreading, Al-Qaida taking this opportunity to destabilize our beloved country, it does not need another christian Taliban group to sprout up and weaken our countries internal and external security.
Let every group learn to live in peace and harmony. Jesus Christ proclaimed peace for the whole world. The prophet of Islam wanted a peaceful religion. What we all are looking is something against the basic tenets of both religions. People who are burning christian homes and properties and killing Christians are not Muslims, but enemies of Islam. No blasphemy cases ever existed against Christians before the law enforced by Gen.Zia ul Haq, which means that Christians have always lived in harmony with Muslim brothers and sisters and do so now even. Let those who spread hatred and divisive comments understand their religions first, before taking law and order in their hands. If elements within our communities are trying to divide the country, remember the demand for a Muslim state came after such atrocities were committed on them by the Hindu majority. Let us learn from our past history and not bring Christians to a point where in the future the world powers may have to re-think again. Let us stop killings and burning and destruction in the name of any religion.
Ali says that we look in what happens in other countries. If something bad is happening in other parts of the world, do we have to follow bad examples.

This is not the first time such a thing has happened, and surely wont be the last. What should be done? Punish the extremist cleric and his cronies for spreading this hatred. Period!

I request higher authorities to take strict action against such elements, which creates instability in Pakistan. No tolerance supposes to be adopted for such criminals.

Look, seriously, what’s the point of having the white strip on the national flag any more? Wouldn’t it be more logical to replace it with some verse issuing a threat to infidels, both inside the country and abroad? I mean, hardly anyone remembers Jinnah these days – they probably think that Zia-ul-Haq founded the nation!

This attack is not first of its kind we have seen these attacks before, all the minorities in Pakistan are living a resentful life. In order to keep relevance to the topic, I would rather talk about Christians only. Mass attacks of such magnitude and cold-blooded killings, blaspheming Jesus Christ, Churches and Holy Christian Books and insolent attitude towards Christians are just a repetition in a pattern of an unsympathetic majority.
Such mass attacks have been made on Christian villages of Martin Pur, Shanty Nagar and a village near Kasur to name a few, with numerous individual senseless killings. This time tragedy has got the spot-light because the whole world has seen the vulnerability of Christian men, women and children and in such astringent moments there was someone who refused to bow down to the will of fascist radicals of society.
In order to end recurrence of such callous attacks, the culprits who are already in custody and who burnt the Bibles and other Christian Holy Books and images of Jesus Christ should be punished for this crime under the existing Blasphemy law. If these culprits can not be punished under this law then this hanging sword on minorities’ heads should be eradicated and abolished in its entirety with thanks to the writer of such a law.

Its ironic that the founder of Pakistan who championed for equal rights for minorities of subcontinent created the state in which minorities are regularly persecuted and are not granted equal right as citizens of Pakistan.

Imran says people of the book (Muslim, Christians and Jews) should be protected. I agree. But isn’t he forgetting the Hindus and Sikhs?

This law has been falsely used too many times now to harm many innocent Pakistani Christians. It aught not be allowed among educated and civilized nations. Four major attacks against Christians in Pakistan within a few months is too much. The government needs to take a serious action against the maulvees who started it and those cowards who carried it out on other Pakistanis of Christian faith. I am ashamed as a Pakistani that it happened in my country. This law needs to be abolished immediately.

Well, If we are getting rid of the Militant in NWFP who were brought to power from obscurity by General Zia (who we all know was a righteous Muslim, LOL) then we should also get rid of this extremist law asap that he made, otherwise we are just proving and admitting to the world that we are really Extremists and Terrorists. Really quite simple don’t you think so?

This incident is not unique to Pakistan:

Why the hell everyone is making a big fuss about it as if it does not happen in other countries. Look at America, where blacks and hispanics have been treated as third class citizens in recent history and killed like animals.

Look at India, where Muslims are treated as third class citizens and killed like in Gujarat riots.

Open your eyes and ears to see what China is doing to fellow Muslim brothers in East Turkistan (Xinghiang).

Asians are called Pakis in UK where they are discriminated and in many riots killed.

Why be pathetic and be of apologetic or slavish about it as if the entire world is a bed or roses and it is Pakistan that is a place where bad things happen.

Shame on your inferiority complex.

Look at Palestinians where every day they are treated as third or even fourth class citizens and killed by Jews supported by US and Europe. Where are the human rights now? Is this not a hypocrisy, ugly double-face of these so called champions of human rights?

To avoid such incidents from happening again Christians in Pakistan need to learn to respect the Islamic Holy Book. If not then do not cry foul.

Islam never works in bits and pieces, it needs to be implemented completely. While people who are blasphemous deserve to be punished, similarly those who put false allegations also should be punished.

The issue is not just one bill. Frankly speaking its not just minorities but everyone faces problems here in Pakistan!! Our whole constitution is corrupt and un-Islamic, and never will it give justice to anyone!!

As a Christian soldier, I want to convey a message to Christian community. “A person who does not use his freedom to protect his freedom, does not deserve freedom”. We have prayed enough. Yet we are not allowed to live peacefully in Pakistan. With out any proof, we are made to suffer. How far will it go? We the Christians are also human beings and not insects that every now and then a Mulla gives “fatwa” and we are made to suffer. My Muslim friends say, Islam does not teach violence. Then who is teaching violence that we saw and witnessed in Gojra? I am sure the “angels” did not attack Christians in Kot Lakha Sing, Bahmni Wala, Korian, Kotri and now in Gojra in less than a month. Please think.

I am deeply saddened over these horrible incidents taking place now and then in a country which was created in the name of Islam (a relegion of peace). How we Muslims can point a finger to Isreal, America or India for their atrocities on Muslims while we are doing cleansing on relegious grounds. Is this what the Islam teaches us.

Religion is Mullah’s bread and butter in pakistan. There are so many Tul-Islam and Islami’s in Pakistan. If these Mullahs are really sincere about Islam then why not make one party and one leader? This is not going to happen and poor minorities have to suffer for mullah’s bread and butter. My heart goes to the families of the Christian brothers and sisters of Gojra riots. Being a Muslim my self I am so ashamed of mullah’s cruelty and declare that the mullahs who incited the violence have no faith.

Simply changing Blasphemy Law does not mean a darn thing. Stop the bigotry, hate and violence in the name of religion and finally blaming Hidden hands and external hands.
Besides being thoroughly hypocritical it also very cowardly simply to look for scapegoats.

Did you know that when the USA constitution was created, the separation of state and church was not the demand of the state… but it was the demand of the religious bodies, who felt that if USA becomes a Christian nation, too much government interference would weaken religion.

Needless to stay, the State prospered, and “every” state that enjoys a degree of prosperity any where on earth, has made sure that religion, state, and politics are kept separated.

When will Pakistan learn…?

No progress, no prosperity, and no independence is possible until you break the link with mullahs and silence those loudspeakers spewing venomous hatred every Friday.

It is heart warming to see that EACH and EVERY Pakistani blogger on this forum has thoroughly condemned this monstrous heinous CRIME against members of a Pakistan minority.

It is high time that Pakistan cleanse itself from the SINS of that horrendous despicable ZIA ERA.

The new Judiciary must reflect the changed democratic humane times in Pakistan by outright banning of the bestial Blasphemy ‘Law’ and horrible Hadood Ordinance — shameful relics of past Mullah military unholy alliance.

A shameful act, by a shameless enemy.

Shame to those who kill the weak and the innocent. The Quran says that whoever killed one human being unjustly, it is as if he killed all mankind. And whoever saved the life of one human being, it is as if he saved all mankind.
Horrible as this incident is, I fail to see the connection between it and the Blasphemy Law. I think the problem is not with the law but with its implementation.
Ideally, the case should first have been taken to the courts, a full trial should have been conducted, and only then should judgement have been passed. That the people took the law into their own hands is criminal, and these people should be tried for murder and manslaughter.
We as a people would have to learn to never to take the law into our hands and to respect judicial procedure.

I am a Pakistani Christian. Today I was traveling on a California highway and I saw a Pakistani Muslim family barely escaped a horrible accident as their car skidded after the loss of left rear tire. The car contained a mom, a dad and three children. They all were visibly shaken after the accident. The mom was dressed in the modest Pakistani garb. The children and the father were dressed in Western cloths and were visibly distressed. I could not go on as a Pakistani Christian without asking if they needed help from me since no one else stopped. I stopped when I safely could and carefully backed my car almost a mile on a dangerous highway to reach them. I used my phone, my towing services and offered my spare tire to help them. They requested and I stayed until help arrived.

I am saddened that so many Muslim people in Gojra were beguiled by a few maulvis to commit acts of terrorism against their Pakistani Christian brothers and sisters.

I think Pakistanis should know how hard it is (especially for minorities in Pakistan) to build lives and homes and properties. They should know that it hurts when a loved one is killed in the evil acts of hate.

Pakistani Muslims and Christians are still Pakistani and their plight is bound together on this earth. Many Pakistani Muslims have been kind to me not because I was a Muslim but because I was a Pakistani.

I am puzzled that a few maulvis were able to entice a large number of Pakistani Muslim people to commit acts of terrorism in this barbaric fashion against innocent Pakistani Christian citizens. It appears that these maulvis think, “might is right”. This was not the Pakistan we knew!

However, I still continue to believe in the good moral judgment of the people of Pakistan. I know that Pakistani Muslims of moral conscience will not let this evil go unpunished.

One more sad day in the short history of Pakistan!
All kind of intolerance is flourishing in the country and unfortunately our so called leader by some how or the other are also airing it. Still is the time, all Pakistani’s should admit that nobody has the right to decide what is right and what is wrong for the others. It is only state law that should decide about it and specially religion is one’s personal matter. I as a Muslim am ashamed of this act and offer apologies for my christian brothers. I will request all enlightened Muslims to promote tolerance in our society and should join their hands to beat all kind of blind extremism. Do we have the courage to do so?

Pakistan = Muslims + Christians + Hindus + Sikhs + Parsis + All Others……
Aik Chaman Ke Phool.

You can make what ever laws that you want; or for that matter get rid of any law. You cannot make people respect each other; respect comes from knowledge and enlightenment, not from just from getting an education. The Christians are and always will be second class citizens in Pakistan, and is per the constitution.

What was perpetrated in Gojra was planned and executed with beastly precision against a poor and defenseless populace; to the extent that the local traders association was involved.

Today it the Christians turn, tomorrow the Shia’s then the Sindhi’s then the Balochis and the list goes on an on

This law should definitely be abolished. The blasphemy shouldn’t even pertain to non-Muslims. If our Prophet never punished anyone for taking against Islam, how can these people take law into their own hands.

As a Muslim, I am not in Favor of this law and it should be taken out of the constitution.

Rid Pakistan of the Blasphemous Laws and punish the cuplrits behind the Gojra violence in public! These laws and Hudood Ordinance have destroyed Pakistan’s social fabric. There should be no two views on this as these charges of blasphemy have mostly been fabricated to target the minorities, who have contributed so much for Pakistan.

How can you justify 295 A, B, C in 21’st century? I most commonly see on the television that Muslim Clerics like Zakir Naik and many more openly criticize other religions. Are they not entitled of any punishment when they are debating against other religions??
Regardless of this intense incidence this is the time to highlight that there are millions of minorities in Pakistan suffering from different kinds of abuse faced in various circles of life e.g. either in work environments, education or civil departments.
How on earth are we (Pakistan) criticizing other countries for not treating Muslim minorities with equality when our own country is not safeguarding the rights of minority?

Pakistan needs a leader who can punish all these horrific extremist groups in the worst possible way to set an example for others to stop and think about what they are doing. And I agree w/ John Bosco that “Am I a Pakistani Citizen? If yes then why am I treated as a 3rd class citizen?” Is this the Pakistan of 21 Century or the 18 century?

I want to say that being a Pakistani and more importantly being a Muslim; they made me feel ashamed of myself. I do agree with Nexus. We must educate ourselves. We must change the course of our thinking. We must sense who we are. We must analyse our deeds with those of what Prophet (PBUH) taught us. And most importantly we must stop producing more and more ‘parrots’ in our society. Did we ever notice what sort of religious pundits we are giving to our society? A boy who is considered to be brainless and stupid in a family, they send him to a Madrissa saying he is not capable of doing anything else and after some time when this boy turns into a young man, he starts imposing his wrong and misjudged ideologies on us which are taught to him again by teachers like him: neglected, abandoned and discarded. This is what the standard we have set for those whom we send to study Islamyaat (Islamic Education). How many of us have learnt Quran by understanding its meaning?? I am living in England and sometimes feel so embarrassed that even these Non-Muslims know more than us what is written in the Holy Quran. They literally laugh on us and mock us. What we know is just to recite Quran, no matter we understand it or not. We think the Hukm is for reciting the Holy Quran no matter whether one understand it or not. We think we will be rewarded just for reciting as many of words in Arabic as we may utter from our mouth.

We must open our minds and hearts to understand Islam. Who is the one given us such authority to kill anyone unheard. The Hukm is, ‘killing of one human being is a killing of all humanity’. The word ‘human’ is used here not the ‘Muslim’. So one may understand how much importance is given to one’s life regardless of being one’s Muslim or Non-Muslim.

As far as the penal provisions contained in Pakistan Penal Code are concerned, they might need to be revised. But before that we must create a suitable atmosphere in our society, otherwise our innocent, I would rather say ignorant, society will again fall prey of so-called Islamic Ulemas and in no time will be ready to carry out genocide without even bothering to know the cause of such chaos.

May Allah help us and open our minds (Amen).

I think that govt. of Pakistan is always responsible for such tragedies, who has given the certificate of blasphemy law to kill the innocent people in the name of Islam. So I think it is very much important to demolish this horrible law (295B-C) for the safety of minorities and as well as for the credibility of Pakistan in the world. And secondly the culprits who are responsible for this brutal act should be punished severely so that in future no body can dare to harm the innocent and faithful minorities of Pakistan.

This is not for the first time that such an incident has happened. It started back in 1940s. Hindus and Sikhs left and we were left with no adversaries. We had to create one and we found the solution to our sickness in Ahmedis in 1953. Then we turned against Bengalis, then came Bauchis and in between we handled the small Sindhi uprisings. We are the hate-mongers, so we have the God given right to kill anyone that comes our way. It is Christian this time, then will be Shiites, and whenever we could find time, we will do the same to Ahmedis.
You just cannot build a healthy society on a heap of prejudices full of vengeance and self-righted religious dogma.
I am ashamed to be Pakistani and I have said this several times before. My heart goes to the Christian community all over the world as it has been going to the followers of all other religious traditions to whom we were very nice. Shame, shame, and shame on me. No one but it is the inside me who was burnt alive yesterday. Does that make all self righteous people happy?

Only solution is our children should be taught all religions in the school and make them secular.

The “terrorist” behind the veils. Yet, another challenge for the Government and the Nation.

According to Print, Electronic media and versions from the eyewitnesses there were veiled persons in the mob that attacked “Christian Town”, Gojra yesterday burning alive persons and creation tension both for public and the Government.

The Police, Administration and the people say they could not be handled. The vital question is, who were they and why they needed to hide their faces while they were protesting the desecration of the “Holy Quran”, thought to be noble cause by the Muslims.

Before coming to the answer of the question it is good to relate this incident with those happening previously which started with the burning of “Shanti Nagar” in February 2009 and later consumed the trust of the people living in Sangla Hill, Bhamniwala, Korian and latest victims were the poor innocent Christians of Gojra.

Situations were created, exploited and used by certain people yet to be identified by the Government Agencies who agitate the innocent Muslims by spreading rumors about the desecration of Quran. By closely observing the happenings this hidden element mingles with the protesters, hide themselves behind veils and uses every aggressive action to take the situation away from the hands of police, administration and the local elders.

The use of chemicals in Shanti Nagar, Sangla Hill, burning of vehicles in Karachi and trains at the death of Benazir Bhutto and now Gojra raises a serious question as to what is the link in all these activities of damaging the society and image of Pakistan.

The second vital question is as to why the police and the Agencies allow the situation to simmer in spite of a very large history of such incidents in Pakistan.

The Law Minister of Punjab and other High Officials have commented that no desecration of Quran took place in “Korian” which led to the burning in both the places.

When is the Nation, Islamic leadership and the Government going to take note of such form of terrorism? How long will it take the Government to establish its writ and would be satisfied by compensating the victims? Is compensation enough to uproot extremism in its present from in order to create a peaceful society that respects the basic human values and rights of its citizens?

I personally ask the Federal Minorities Minister Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti and the Punjab Minorities Minister Mr. Kamran Michael to resign in order to open the eyes of the Government to this bitter reality.

Bishop Ijaz Inayat
Bishop House, Holy Trinity Cathedral
Abdullah Haroon Road, Karachi
Cell 03002120222, e-mail bishop_karachi@hotmail.com

Tolerance in Pakistan remains a myth, equal rights to all citizens remain a dream. No shortcut solutions to this problem. Extremists of all kinds are bad news whether they be Muslim, Hindu or Christian. As long as this psychology remains that killing non muslims is a sure shot ticket to heaven, these problems will persist. We need to educate people, enlighten them in a more tolerant version of Islam. We are victims of our own ideologies where just a few years back young ones were brainwashed into killing hindus across the border to earn some primetime hoors in heaven so preaching people to kill in the name of religion has not really worked out well for us. Please dont radicalize the young ones, instead of having them cram the militant definition of jihad make them decipher the true arms-free meaning of it.

Push has finally come to a shove. Unless the government uses all its machinery to give exemplary punishment to the culprits, it will not generate enough traction for its moderation drive.

May our brothers and sisters in nationality rest in peace. Amen

Eliminate the fanatic mullahs.eliminate the blasphemy law. eliminate the madressahs — the breeding grounds — of fanatical islam. constitution be amended,as a secular one — like our neighbor, india. Friday sermons to be led by liberal imams. state should select the educated & moderate imams for the mosque .good luck till then….

Either blasphemy law should be repealed completely or it should be applicable for blaspheming Christian, Hindu, Parsi and Sikh religions too. The people who take the law in their own hands should be given exemplary punishment.

The under-cover terrorists were able to ignite the moron public to attack the Christian community under the pretext of desecration of the Qur’an.
Some religious leaders and extremist groups are to share the blame of playing a nonsense role.
There has been so much going on with regard to a political unease in the country.
The authorities are trying their best to remedy the problems, but 24/7 an under-cover ongoing unlawful activity is aimed at to further tarnishing the image of Pakistan in the eyes of other global countries.
The hidden hand had been successfully trying to make the Muslims fight against each other. The same hidden forces might have been behind the said irritation to fulfill their nefarious designs.
The provoking, counter provoking and revenge all end up in the loss of precious lives and property.
Our Christian fellows are part of Pakistan and they love the country too. Therefore, it is almost impossible that they would ever burn a copy of the holy Qur’an.
First of all, those who make an issue of every little thing —must take a good look at themselves to make sure whether they are following the rules of Allah SWT. The Muslim is not a complete Muslim unless he or she submits to the will of Allah entirely.
Rage mongering is completely haraam. A mob of Muslims over-reacted highly irresponsibly, and had caused a rift between the two communities.
Whoever is behind all this must be brought in the open.
Under the new judicial policy, the independent judiciary is most likely to deal with the malicious activity in such a way that the unfortunate incidence would never be repeated.
Let us sit back and wait for a happy outcome.

Hi Friends,
Its good to read such views from all of you. Back home in India… any such event will have both sided comments.

The most funny part is that these people, who lay claim to be the followers of Islam, took no shame in doing all sorts of criminal acts in their bid to punish the ‘unholy act.’ And of course, coming to the most important part, the proof for the burning or humiliation of Scripture was never presented, as is always the case – this, now, is a striking trait of nearly all such outbursts, the lack of a substantial proof. This, then, points to one and only thing that the episode is the manipulation of the mob by the religious Mullahs of our societies to wreck havoc upon the ‘bloody kafirs’ only because they are not the adherents of the religion the majority follows – a remarkable manifestation of the ‘with us or against us’, complying perfectly to the Mullah-istic understanding of the concept of tolerance.

The fact is that minorities, in our country, are the most distressed faction of our society – so much for claims of granting equality to them. Even the bitter neighbor holds our fellow Muslim brethern in a better status than that we grant to the minorities at home. Here, nearly no member of the minority makes it to some eminent post in government, none is ever heard to be among the famed personalities of the nation – rather, their position is found among the peons and other holders of such petty jobs. We need to accept the fact that we are the worst hypocrites as a nation, for we even deny the hypocrisy we deploy – and by denying to accept the charge, we of course can never hope for a change to that. And unless change happens, such outbreaks, killings and plunderings in the name of religion and in the command of Mullahs shall only continue in our society.

Our hearts are grieved and sad on this cruel and brutal action of these fanatic people. One can not imagine that in this modern age people can burn some one alive on the name of religion. Our head are down because when we say that our religion teaches us to be toleratent but through our action we show totally opposite. One thing we all should know that our action speaks louder than our words and teaching. Suggestion; in future if we want to prevent this kind of incident. Just to keep in our mind that God can protect us but we can protect God through our filthy action because our good works can be filthy rags in the sight of God.

Exacerbated by religious extremism, ours is a very violent and unforgiving society. All these retrogressive laws one enacted are difficult to be reversed. And the face of Islam we are showing to the world is not a pretty one.

What a shame, at the hands of the Thakadars of Islam. These laws were made, not only to oblige and please Mullahs of Pakistan, but also were made to help, police make money, by blackmailing the innocent poor people of Pakistan. The irony of the matter is, that the cases registered under the blasphemy law so far, were all fabricated, and the worst part is, even the Courts, were scared of doing justice, even in the absence of any material evidence. I also strongly believe, no religion, and the messenger, ever dictated, desecration against any believer of any faith. Even the Prophet of Islam, denounced humiliating the Gods of other religion. Shame to these people, who are practicing the religion which never was practiced by Prophet of Islam.

Dear Readers!

I think Gojra incident should open the eyes of Pakistani people of all faiths they should learn to tolerate all faiths. All human beings of different faiths make mistakes including myself;but your faith, education or social education makes you able to understand the difference between the wrong or Right.All people who are really educated should read the book which they really believe is a book of Faith (Bible, Quran, Tura, Gitta or Social Law for particular country); people should wake up and not read the two thousand years old laws apart from the Holy books which discriminate other human beings of their own race, colour ,or fellow country.

Pakistani people should understand in simple words and give equal rights to all faiths including Christan, Hindus, Sikhs, Marzai, Budasit, Athiest, they could be collectively very productive as Pakistani for the growth your country ,give them the right to call themselves as pakistani, not only by by their religious denomination. Therefore in wake of Gojra incident I would like to request DAWN NEWS paper to please convey my remarks to higher autorties Let the God (ALLAH) to take care of your Religion or Faith do not punish innocent human beings.

The HOLY BOOK QURAN does not carry BLASPHEMY LAW. It was created by dictators for political purposes to save their Governments and made the unstable pakistani society to fight with each other, I also want to add instead of mentioning religion on Pakistani Passport, please give all Pakistanis to call themselves Pakistani in an honorable way. In my opinion as a Pakistani person, people of pakistan do not have a good education opportunity .They should be educated in simple words on Telivision to respect other religions.

Do three things:

(1) Remove “Islamic” from Islamic republic of Pakistan. Having Islamic in the name of the country gives the muslim zealots in Pakistan an excuse to discriminate minorities.
(2) Abolish the idiotic blasphemy law. It is strange that in this day and age, Pakistan has this absurd law that outrightly discriminates non muslims.
(3) Revamp Pakistan’s educational curriculum and teach the students the importance of respecting people who does not share their religion and culture.

It will take at least 20-25 years to see the effect of #3, but that is one of the key long term solutions. Pakistanis have become a joke in the whole world due to their stupidity.

Muslims and Islam always give respect to all religion. Islam is the example for whole world that Islam is not threat for anyone whatever they have religion because Islam taught us about brotherhood and sisterhood,kindness, propriety, forgiveness, make bridges among the whole nation it doesn”t matter whatever religion they have.

We Pakistani feel proud as a Muslim country that we always respect all religions in the country. Non-muslims have same rights as muslims have. Non-muslim could live in our country without any hesitation and they can perform all their religious ceremony freely.

Government must take it seriously and punish them who involve in this evil act.

This incident is extremely sad, not only for Christians but Muslims too feel it is totally against any law, religion and so on. The law should be for every person in a country and not only the majority of the people. Why can’t be impose democacry realistically and not just pretend we’re trying our best to impose it ?…we need to respect people of other religion that exist in Pakistan and it’s the governments responsibility to let the public know this!

Does not surprise me..a country whose foundation was laid on mistrust of other religions..does not surpise me at all. Pakistan is not a country for non muslims..err wait a minute for Muslim too like shias, ahmediyas, sunni muslim who are secular, muslims who do not agree with Taliban, muslim who have a western outlook, muslims who question certain things of Kuran, muslims who do not wear burqa..oh my god the list goes on and on….in a nut shell a FAILED STATE…sorry Mr. Jinnah it just is not working.

In my opinion exemplary punishment to these attackers will block the way for future attacks on minorities in Pakistan. The few Mullahs who always ignite this fire should be permanently removed.

The blasphemy law was designed to legally pick on and victimize minorities. There is no other practical purpose of that law. It was made because it could be made. However, the damage has been done long enough and repealing this law is not particularly likely to undo decades of abuse. Pakistan needs to move on and come out of the cloak of religion. Religion was a means to attain statement 60 years go but it’s time to move on.

Most of all, where are all the concerned ulemas who are out there giving fatwas all over the place over KESC, women and what not? Oh, they are busy saving their jobs probably. What a shame.

I don’t think abolishing blasphemy laws would bring any change in society, as it has already become very intolerant and extremist society. The real motive behind such horrific incidents is personal revenge of an individual or group of people and when opportunity arises, others join for their financial, political and religious gains. In the absence of blasphemy laws, the miscreants will find other ways to settle the score.

Long time ago, we the members of a residential society removed our Imam Masjid, as he was too extremist, especially against one sect of Muslims. As soon as we removed him, he was immediately welcomed by nearby mosque for better pay and benefits, which was also bigger than our mosque and had more permanent Namazis. Though he got better job and should have left us alone, instead he kept on accusing us, this writer was his special target, but I always ignored him,..my big mistake.

One day I gathered few students of society to clean our mosque, when we were working inside mosque, one of my friend came and asked me to come to nearby football ground, and play from their side, as they were short of one player. After instructing students about work, I left with my friend for football match. During half time, when were relaxing, those students whom I had left in mosque, came there carrying very Old pages of Quran and many other pages of other holy books, which they had found in book shelves. It was normal, because early morning Quran Lessons were attended by many young kids, and with passage of time, it happens to all books. As I was thinking what to tell them, I saw (above mentioned) Imam Masjid on side lines watching football match. As I could not think anything else I pointed towards him and asked kids to get his advice. He received those Old Qurans and other holy papers from kids and told them that he would find some proper place to keep them and immediately left ground on his motor bike .

After the football match was over and both teams were about to leave, we saw hundreds of people approaching towards ground with all kinds of weapons, sticks and chanting slogans, and to my worst fear, they were chanting my name. Fortunately there were many well built football players still in ground and some other people who knew me. They pushed me behind and stood in front of me like a wall to save me from a very violent crowd. When crowd saw a different situation they stopped. The same Imam appeared from crowd and yelled again, “You all Jahanimi Poeple”, what are you waiting?, that’s the person who humiliated and desecrated your holy book, Get him,….again crowed did not move. Meanwhile more supporters came to my side and we out numbered crowd. After few minutes of discussion and reconciliation, crowd dispersed and Imam vanished with them.

Those few minutes were my worst nightmare. If the situation had been different, the consequences could have been very disastrous for me.

As far as law is concerned it was impossible to initiate any action against Imam, who preached hate for many more years till his death. There was not a single person from that violent crowd who had come to apologize and ask for forgiveness nor they ever questioned Imam’s wrongful accusation. Such miscreants hide behind religion and religious passion and society simply ignores it, and that’s the real flaw.

In this Feudal and Naudaulatya (nouveau riche) dominated Political Scenario its not possible to think that the Top Person will ever take the responsibility. Scapegoats are the middle order cadre of the bureaucracy. If you are a good human being you are the best Muslim. Which definitely majority of the people are not.

Looking through the history of the human race, it is evident that when the religious sentiment have gone overboard it has caused nothing but problem. When the religion is advising to love peace and brotherhood, the followers, blinded by their personal convictions and interpretation have gone the totaly opposite way and caused bloodshed and disharmony.
The recent incident in Pakistan is just another example of the imbalance in the nation who is not “thinking”. Where is this grounded? in the socio-economic system? in the conviction that killing others will take you to heaven? in believing in doing the “right thing”
I enjoyed my days of youth in Karachi, Pakistani where I did not even have a thought of not belonging to Pakistan or belonging to a different religion. The times seems to have changed, unfortunately not for the better.
Please, review where the nation has gone wrong and amend the mistakes carried out or the consequence will be suffered by the generations to come and it will not be a desirable consequence. We can not live like savages anymore, we are the citizens of the global society and children of the age of enlightenment. Let not the darkness take hold of our mind and heart but follow the light and the path of the righteous.
The good in all human being will prevail, have faith.
Be blessed.

There are forces in our country who are like the VHP or the Jan Sangh of India.These are so called the Muslim Jan Sanghes who are trying to act exactly against the Quranic Principals and the saying and deeds of the Holy Prophet.They are the worst enemies of the Humanity,Islam and Pakistan.After opening the fronts in NWFP now they are creating the disorder in the Punjab.

The blasphemy law is just one aspect of the problem. The problem is intermingling of religion and the state.

That’s hard to do after one generation of “Pakistan Studies” has blurred that distinction.

Firstly, my condolences to the members of the families of the martyrs who paid the price with their lives just like their Leader, Jesus Christ as he did for all of us. Secondly, the culprits should be detained and tried for deaths and punished to the harshest extent of the law after a brief trial. Police charged for negligence and be released to teach lesson to the rest. Rest of the police forces should be given education as to how keep control of the mob and be honest officers of the force.

In addition, government should call an emergency session of the parliament and look into the following suggestions:

The government of Pakistan should abolish the blasphemy law;
Call back the bill from Swat to practice Shria Law immediately;
Introduce a bill to have the Christians practice double voting right in the national and provincial election and reserve percentage of Senate seats for Christians;
Restore rights for the minorities as stated in the Constitution of 1948;
Return rest of the Christian owned and operated Schools, Colleges and Hospitals.

First of all, my condolences to the families of the martyrs, they pay the price for all the living members of the largest minority of Christian People in Pakistan. Second, I expect the government should arrest all attacking animals and the leaders and those responsible for causing death should sentenced to death after a brief trial.

I empathise with the ones who fought back with their few guns to protect the honor of their families, faith and property. However, since the all government’s current and past, provincial and federal, the following suggestion is the only solution:

What I suggest is that Pakistan gave us 176,000.Sq.km from Balochistan to form our own Province which will be part of Pakistan with the head being a Governor, appointed by the government of Pakistan and it will be called West Balochistan. Since it is mostly underdeveloped, it makes economic sense to give half of it to those people who know how to develop economy and we will be self supporters and will not even ask for large share as the other provinces. This newly formed province will shine within few years from its existence.

Pakistani Christian community and the Human Right groups all over the world have voiced their concern against the ill-inked blasphemy law in Pakistan, which has led to imprisoning and killing innocent citizens of Pakistan. Time and again it has been exposed to the government and the judiciary that this law is being used to intimidate people particularly the religious minorities. The Blasphemy Law should be repealed with all its sections in order to avoid such incidents in future. We are giving a bad name to Pakistan all over the world.

Brilliant comments from Nexus and Syed Khan. I compeletely agree with both of them, as we need this law for the protection of sentiments of the people of the book ( muslims, christians and jews) but we need to punish these killers with the punishment provided in the same law. As I beleive the same law provides the punishment for those who would come up with false blame.
The governement needs to be very very tough on these blackmailers, who are playing with the beiliefs of innocent people. I am a muslim but I am ashamed today for the acts done by these killers in the name of My tolerant religion and I could’t comprehend that how these so called protectors of Islam and Prophet(pbuh) would face Allah and Prophet (pbhu) on the day of judgement when He would ask them that who gave them the authority? who proved this blasphemy actually occured? and how they decided that this was done by the same people they killed?
May Allah help us learn actual Islam.

It is a very sad incident and those who committed this crime should be punished but it would not happen in Pakistan. Punjab is the centre of all kind of criminals and provincial govt has no control at all. Their ministers and MPAs are also involved in crimes, so how can expect justice from these guys. Pakistan should provide protection to minorities and it is every individual responsibility to take care of other communities.

As a muslim I am extremely saddened by these incidents. I pray for all the familes of my Christian brothers and sisters who lost loved ones.
On the Blasphemy law, it is one that has been abused by many since its inception to harass non-muslims. By, Allah, by Koran and by Sunnah, non-muslims have the same right as Muslims living in a muslim nation. Our leaders and religious zealots might not agree, but who cares for them? Its not like they have done anything for Islam or Muslims in the last 1400 years anyways.
Drastically change the law, that is my recommendation. Treat everyone as equal. Make everyone a 1st class citizen. Give minorities voting rights.
We cannot and never will be able to remove hatred againts Islam and Muslims by torching their houses and killing them. Education and equality is the key to sucess.

The tragic incident which happened in Gojra, is a big shame for the whole PAKISTANI nation.We are very much ashmed with the Christan society that due to our few extrimist barbarians we had to suffer such an unbearable incident. The Maulvee who announced from the mosque for this illegal move must be hanged in the main bazar of GUJRA, so that effectees may get some relieve. All the christians living in Pakistan they are our brothers Pakistani. They have all the rights which a Pakistani deserve, so don;t say that they are in minority.Pakistan is for every one who is living in Pakistan, does;nt matter from which religon he belongs, he is first Pakistani then comes religon.In my opinion not only Chief Minister of Punjab, but Prime Minister and President of Pakistan at once visit Gojra and regret from the grieved families, and give them assurance that they will be given respect and protection.

How can we prevent a repeat of the Gojra attacks?
We can prevent these incident by abolishing and making Amendment to this blasphamy law becuase it is misused and misinterpreted.
Christian, Should have thier own political party, Our christian should have thier own state or City, I think.

xcept pray we cannot do n e thing so brother and sister keep praying for the people who sufring my personal relative live in gojra they burnt there house aswell

I agree with Syd Khan. Debating the validity of the law is turning a blind eye on the real problem, i.e. people willing to kill recklessly and indiscriminately. It is not the law at fault here, but people having no respect for human life. These people are to be targeted and dealt with. Otherwise, if you abolish one law today, they will find a new one tomorrow to justify their blood lust.

The recent occurrences of Gojra, Toba Tek Sigh, Bahmani Wala village in District Kasur are the continuation of similar episodes from the past 2 decades. This is not only the shocking news for the entire Pakistani Christian community but this time every Christian is thinking.

• Am I a Pakistani Citizen? If yes then why am I treated as a 3rd class citizen?
• What are my rights as a Pakistani citizen?
• Why the non-state actors are backed by the police, clerics and then the state ?
• Why the Pakistani Government forgot the mission of Quaid-i-Azam – founder of Pakistan? He stated in his speech of Feb 1948:

“In any case Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic state to be ruled by priests with a divine mission. We have many non-Muslims-Hindus, Christians and Parsis — but they are all Pakistanis. They will enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other citizens and will play their rightful part in the affairs of Pakistan.” Quaid-i-Azam, Feb. 1948 [3]

In order to control and eliminate such crimes I would like to give few suggestions:

The culprits should be penalized and must be sent to prison, so that in future no cleric will take law in his hands by using the loudspeaker from the mosque to instigate and motivate for such crimes. They must get the same punishment, which had been applied to many unblemished Christians for the false statement of burning Koran and blasphemy against the Prophet.

Why can’t they send to Jail when they are involved in burning Bibles, Churches and other Holy materials? Why police do not take any actions against these people who do such crimes in front of them? Is law different for the Minority and majority? I think justice could not be provided to the common man until the police understand what is their duty and responsibilities. The govt should take strict and appropriate actions against those involving innocent Christians in such crimes.

Why can’t sections 295 B & C of the Pakistan Penal Code could be amended and be deleted the offensive sections? As far as their insertions are concerned, we are aware the motto was to achieve the political milestone and make happy few people. However, due to this action many Pakistani Christians lost their lives, homes and properties. This must be debated until unless we can’t find the solution. The only solution I can see (295 B and C) offensive sections need to be deleted from Pakistan Penal Code.

I would like to request the renowned TV anchors, columnists, writers and others to please debate this hot issue – invite Pakistani Christians, minority leaders and Liberal scholars from Islam to review this blasphemy law 295-B and; C, which introduced to achieve the political milestone. Hurry up this is vital issue for the Christians.

Please go back to the time of our beloved probhet muhammad (peace be upon him),during his time many people said bad things about him even though one lady use to throw garbage on our beloved prophet (peace be upon him) ..but but but …our beloved prophet(peace be upon him) never punished them instead when the lady didnt throw garbage one day he went to her house to ask what happend and the lady converted to islam just coz of our beloved prophet’s (peace be upon him)kind and generous and forgiven personality, but now a days our mullah’s do all the sin. the government must abolish this law if they truley love our beloved prophet (peace be upon him) and educate all the mullah’s. These mullah’s are axes of Evil and they have no idea and information about real islam.

i think history is repeating itself. like muslims had problem with hindu majourity before partition.same situation is here with muslims and christians they seem hard to get along with each other actually i should say majority seems to have problem with all the minourities. if somone says that minourities have all the freedom they need that person need to go out and talk to minourities . so i think there is only one option wich is called ” awareness ” let me add one suggestion that people should keep thier children away from extremists ,the people who seed hate in our kids against other religions.

“Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy law has often been criticised for breeding religious intolerance” – Strongly disgree, for even Holocast contesting is a UN approved criminal offense. This law is preventive in nature but its implementation requires redical measures. Those taking law in their hands hiding behind this law shall be punishable by death in case they cause death. It should be law to decide whether or not blaspheme has occured. Few imprisonments or capital sentense to such criminals will do good to both, increase the respect of law and at the same time get rid of these criminals (including officials if involved)taking law in their hands with impunity.

Some may ask what is real education ?

Real education is something which make you creative and in our schools and Madrssas kids are just changed into parrots who just learn few words by heart.Our bureaucrats are just good in writing English just like the parrot is good in reciting their few words.There is no creativity whats so ever.When whole of earth are utilizing their own natural resources e.g big water dams on rivers.We cant even build one dam and today we have to live with the azab of Load shading.Countries like Tajikistan whose water resources are nothing compare to us are selling electricity to us thats just a big shame and we are just busy in corruption or how to runaway to another country and now even those countries dont want our cheap slavery.Our idols have left us to face the demon of our bad deeds.Lets unite lets learn lets teach other lets be patient.Laws in some law book can not change peoples but peoples can change peoples.

Stoping hate speaches from pulpits of mosques, banning hate inciting communal literature, strong administrative actions and judicial punishments in previous such cases of communal arson and murders, repeal of blashpemy law and complete seperation of state and religion are needed to overcome this monster of senseless killings and widespread damages to citizens of other faiths and their properties.

Killing innocent people is unIslamic. The animals who are involved in killing and burning must be severely punished. Christians and muslims should work together to find out who was the insensitive culprit who did this disrespectful act. Those persons are equally responsible for death of the innocent peoples.

It’s becoming our habit in Pakistan to break the law. Few day ago when police tried to do its job SHO got transferred, lawyers were seen on national TV beating up a police officer in public and now people are being burned alive.
May Allah help Pakistan

Every such law should be annuled. Religious intolrence does not have any place on this earth. if we want to live peacefully

I wonder the change in law will bring any effect on already banned and unlawful extremiest groups who have killed more fellow muslims than non-muslims in Pakistan. The governement needs to expose the financers and big players of this dirty game of extremism in our dear homeland. A disease can’t be cured unless it is rightly diagnosed otherwise all the treatment will only aggravate the already pathetic situation.

Its very horrifying to see that houses of Christian community members were set on fire. Early reports suggest that militant groups from Jhang did this. Now it is upto the government of Punjab to prove what it has been saying, the justice. Islam would not be protected by only attacking minorities but what we do for our fellowmen, no doubt they be christians.

I am deeply saddened and hurt by the recent burning and killing of Christians in Gojra, but im not surprised incidents like these have been occuring from time time and they will since this land of the pure is based on a -so called – ideology which favours a certain religious belief. Unless this country is declared secular religious persecution will go on, today its the christians, next will b the Shias and others.

1) Abolish blasphemy law
2) Stop brainwashing children by teaching spurious and malign ideas of Shahadat and Jihad in school. Or at least teach them about Jihad against poverty and ignorance.
3) Make Pakistan a secular muslim nation – equal right for all religion.

But nothing will happen. Because an average pakistani has been brainwahsed and an attitude of intolarance to non-muslims has spread in entire society.

And if above changes happen, it will take at least a generation – 25 years – for the society to change – i.e. when children with secular education become full adult and change the mindset of the nation.

Till then, good luck.

I think that Gojra incident is an outcome of many factors which reinforce one another. This is why it is not difficult to understand the path dependence and similarities in many incidences in the past. One factor is horizontal inequality (inequality amongst social groups) which manifests itself in divergent social and economic positions of minorities vis-a-vis majority. The discriminatory laws also play a role which ass pervasive risk factors for an environment of insecurity to sustain. Minorities being inherently weak are prosecuted more easily and personal scores are settled in the name of religious identity. Other important factors, apart from the socio-economic positions and legal environment is non-acceptance of plurality in society and frequently challenging the monopoly of the state over violence by armed groups. However, this incident seems more an act of terror which was possible because the social cleavages and inequalities weaken the social body and decrease the cost of terrorism. A state fully functional and autonomous maintaining equal distances with citizens is necessary to control such incidences.

The law is not the problem but the ignorant Pakistani public who decides to take law in their own hand and destroy life and property on any excuse. Doesnt matter if the fuel is added by a maulvi, a politician or even a lawyer.

You will see such unrest and disregard for peoples rights because our police does not and maybe now, can not carry out its duties properly. This gives any person regardless of his motive a chance to strike while the iron is hot and cause as much damage and benefit to his own cause as possible.

Extremely sad. Sad to know that even in this day and age such extreme level of religious intolerance exists. How can we ever progress with such a mind set?

I wish muslims would stop considering themselves superior and understand that all religions teach good things and deserve the same level of respect. No one has the right to kill, no matter what the person might have said about ur religion.

1.Review school curriculum.

2. Review the need for blasphemy law.

3. When intolerance is manifested, take immediate and exemplary action.

4. Take action against people who spew hate speech on TV channels.

5. Review and revise history books that generate inappropriate hatred towards minorities.

Above all emphasize that national identify or being a Pakistani is more important than religious identity or being a Muslim.

The state minister for minorities and the police chief should resign.