When mobs swept through the city of Jaranwala in August 2023, the destruction shocked the world. More than two dozen churches were torched, Christian homes were looted, and entire neighborhoods were scarred by violence. What began with accusations of blasphemy against two brothers escalated into what Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) described as “the worst episode of violence against Christians” in Pakistan’s history.
Two years later, the ruins of burned sanctuaries still remind Christians of the trauma. But what cuts even deeper is the absence of justice. Bishop Indrias Rehmat of Faisalabad, the diocese where the attacks took place, is blunt: “Justice has not been done. The police have not done their duty. Nobody has been punished and nobody has been dealt with properly” (Catholic News Agency).
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Out of more than 5,000 people accused, only a fraction were arrested. Courts recently acquitted 10 men charged with burning a church, citing weak investigations. For the Christian community, this has confirmed fears that perpetrators of anti-Christian violence in Pakistan rarely face consequences(Christian Post).
At first, fear and intimidation silenced many survivors. Families were warned not to pursue complaints. Yet Bishop Rehmat sees a shift: “What’s changed over the last two years since the attacks is that people have now become ready to fight for their rights. They say we should shout and scream” (ACN).
Christians in Faisalabad, though only about 1.6% of Pakistan’s population, are refusing to be pushed to the margins. Their determination reflects not only anger but also a renewed conviction that their faith demands courage, even in the face of persecution.
The Jaranwala attacks are not isolated. From 1987 to early 2021, more than 1,800 people were charged under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, according to human rights monitors, according to Catholic News Agency. While Muslims themselves have often been victims of these accusations, Christians—already a vulnerable minority—are disproportionately affected.
Even after their acquittal, brothers Rocky and Raja Masih, who were accused of desecrating the Quran, remain marked by suspicion. Their case underscores how accusations alone can unleash deadly consequences, regardless of the evidence.
For Catholics worldwide, the Jaranwala anniversary is more than a local tragedy—it is a summons to solidarity. The Church in Pakistan is asking for prayers, but also for international advocacy so that governments and human rights organizations keep pressing for accountability.
The words of Bishop Rehmat capture the urgency: “At this stage, we do not see any hope of any culprit being punished.” Yet his people, weary of waiting, are no longer willing to suffer in silence. They continue to raise their voices, trusting that their cry for justice echoes before God even when courts remain unmoved.
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