Leaders Fear More Violence Against Christians

"India opened their gates for Hindu fellows, why can’t Christian counties do the same for Christians"
- Joseph Francis

Photo: Shamim Masih Salem-News.com

(LAHORE, Pakistan) - Joseph Francis, International Director of CLAAS (Centre for Legal Aid Assistance & Settlement), said in a press conference here today that Pakistani Christians are in great fear of facing more violence and torture during the next government of PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz).

In a press conference at Lahore Press Club, Joseph Francis said that "we are afraid that during the PML-N rule, Pakistani Christians will face more violence as they have faced similar situation in the past during PML-N government. Gojra, Korian and Joseph Colony incidents were being planned by the fanatics and supported by PML-N leadership", he alleged.

Talking to the media, Martin Javed Michel blamed that Joseph Colony incident was backed by PML-N leaders Malik Riaz, Chaudhry Shehbaz, Dr. Asad Ashraf, Ghazali Saleem Butt and Mushtaq Mughal and it was reported to the police as well.

"But unfortunately, Premier Mian Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif have not taken any notice against them and the same leaders are in the ruling elite and will create more problems for Christians". He said,

"We are Pakistanis since our forefathers and have been faithful to the country but unluckily, since partition, we are being treated as second class citizen".

"If the situation remains same as it seems, then Pakistani Christians will be forced to leave the country as Hindu community left for India in the recent past", he feared.

Joseph Francis, working for the victims for the last two decades, has requested the foreign countries like Australia, Canada, America and European Union to open their gates for Pakistani Christians.

He demanded that Christians countries provide shelter for the Pakistani Christians as they are not safe in Pakistan.

"India opened their gates for Hindu fellows, why can’t Christian counties do the same for Christians," he demanded.

He also demanded that the Chief Justice of Pakistan form a Commission for fact finding of the Joseph Colony incident, and says the culprits should be punished.