CHRISTIANS ATTACKED IN KASUR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAHORE 000133

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF PK
SUBJECT: CHRISTIANS ATTACKED IN KASUR


1. (SBU) Summary: A drunken fistfight erupted into an alleged
incident of blasphemy, which sparked a mob attack on a Christian
community in rural Punjab, prompting 700 people to flee their
homes June 30. Federal Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz
Bhatti offered compensation to the affected families on July 4,
but several human rights activists remain concerned that the
government has swept the incident under the rug. End Summary.

Street Fight Turns Into Mob Violence


2. (SBU) The June 30 mob attack on a Christian community in
rural Kasur district in Punjab originated with a non-faith-based
fistfight after a car refused to allow a tractor pulling a
trailer of Christians to pass him on the road, according to
Joseph Francis, National Director of the Center for Legal Aid
Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS). After Muhammad Riaz, the
Muslim driver of the car, lost the fight to the Christian
driver, Francis detailed, Riaz registered a First Incident
Report (FIR) against the Christians of the village. Although a
Christian group approached the police to file an FIR against
Riaz, local police declined the application, according to the
CLAAS fact-finding report. Reverend Majid Abel, Pastor of the
Presbyterian Naulakha Church in Lahore who visited the area on
July 4, told poloffs on July 6 the local police may have
received a separate FIR claiming blasphemy against four
Christians but have not acted on these charges.


3. (SBU) Several hours after the quarrel, a local imam
announced from his mosque's loudspeaker that the Christians had
committed blasphemy, Francis related to poloff. As a result, as
many as 400 Muslims, led by the Imam, attacked the houses of the
Christian community after the police failed to arrest the
Christian, according to the CLAAS report. The press reported
that the mob burned houses, disconnected electricity, cut off
water supply, beat villagers with sticks, and stole money and
jewelry. The CLAAS report noted that while the team toured
Bahmin Wala village in the aftermath of the violence, the local
cleric urged Muslims to kill Christians from the loudspeakers of
the mosque. The Imam further declared that any Muslim that
provided food and water to the Christians would be exiled from
the community, the report states. "After being forced from
their homes, the villagers spent the night in the field, without
food or water," reported Reverend Majid. CLAAS staff
transported two women and four children with acid burns to the
CLAAS Rehabilitation Center in Lahore, said Francis. He
recounted that a Christian woman was bathing when the attackers
entered her home and dragged her from her home naked. Reverend
Majid Abel, who provided poloff with pictures from his visit,
stated on July 6 this same woman attempted suicide the next day.


No Action Against the Perpetrators


4. (SBU) Asif Aqeel, Executive Director of the Community
Development Initiative, told poloff July 6 that he and Member of
the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Amina Buttar met with District
Coordination Officer (DCO) and District Police Officer (DPO) on
July 4. Aqeel reported that the DPO has delayed the filing of an
FIR against the Muslim community. The Muslims have "demanded an
FIR first be registered against the Christian community for
blasphemy as there are only 137 Christian families and more than
one million Muslims in Kasur and things would go out of control
if there was religious turmoil," Aqeel explained.


5. (SBU) Federal Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti
visited the village on July 4, promised to distribute 100,000
rupees to 70 affected families, and declared peace in the
village, Aqeel narrated. Kasur Tehsil Nazim Agha Naved Hashim
also pledged Rs 20,000 to each family, he stated. He noted that
the DCO of Kasur assured him and MPA Amina Buttar that checks
would be distributed this week to the affected families.
"Victims see this money as a way to buy their silence," Reverend
Majid Abel told poloff on July 4. "People do not want money,
they want justice," he commented. "Shahbaz Bhatti visited, gave
a speech and declared peace had been restored, but women were
still crying and people were not happy with the announcement,"
he complained. "The focus has been on getting the Christians to
say that they forgive. Peace can only be reached if those that
are responsible are charged with a crime. Then the two
communities can sit and make peace," he explained.


6. (SBU) Approximately 25 members of CLAAS and its sister
organization Sharing Life Ministries called for the registration
of an FIR against the attackers in a July 6 protest outside the
Lahore Press Club. Reverend Majid told poloffs that villagers
had initially planned to participate in these protests, but
"when the buses showed up to bring them this morning, no one was
willing to come." Aqeel confirmed that Father Parvaiz Raza, the

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local parish priest in Kasur, announced in a public gathering on
July 5 that the Lahore gathering would "sabotage their
reconciliation efforts." "What we want is to bring this crime
to the public's attention and those responsible be brought to
justice," said Reverend Majid, who planned to travel to Kasur
again on July 7.


Lahore High Court Takes Notice


7. (SBU) The Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court took suo
motu notice of the case on July 10. He ordered the appearance
of Kasur District Police officer and the Station House Officer
along with the complete record, according to press. The Chief
Justice directed local authorities to ensure security for the
Christian community, according to press. A Christian activist
told the Daily Times that the High Court's intervention will
help.


8. (SBU) Comment. The mob violence in Kasur adds to the list
of unfortunate incidents that demonstrate the ease with which
radicals can invoke blasphemy charges to incite riots that
satisfy their own grievances. Although the local authorities
have so far refused to follow up on the formal blasphemy charge,
their reluctance to detain and punish the perpetrators
illustrates the powerlessness of the Christian community. Post
will continue to monitor the status in the village, and
government action to resolve the issue. End Comment.
LOWE