BAHAWALPUR, Nov 16: Christian community leaders while condemning the Sangla Hill incident demanded the government to appoint a high court judge to probe the matter so that the culprits involved in it could be arrested. At a press conference held at the St Dominican Convent School on Wednesday night, fathers Zafar Iqbal (Lahore), Albert Youhana (Multan), Nadeem Joseph, Akhtar Naveed, Rehmat Raja (Bahawalpur) and sister Rose Mary termed the incident an open act of terrorism, and alleged the churches and other Christian institutions at Sangla Hill were torched in a planned manner.

They also alleged the residents were instigated throughout the night, which resulted in the violence next day.

They protested against the apathy of local police officials and said that due to insecurity, about 45 Christian families had to leave their houses.

They said the Christians were neither satisfied with the assurances being given by the government, nor by the investigation initiated by it.

They demanded the suspension of DPO and DSP concerned, besides compensation for the material loss suffered as a result of violence.

They also demanded impartial probe into the desecration incident which apparently sparked the violence.

Stressing the need for harmony between the Muslim and the Christian communities, they said that they (Christians) too were peace-loving citizens of Pakistan and should be treated as such.

The also demanded security for their places of worship. It was announced that all Christian and missionary schools in the country would remain closed on Thursday to protest over the Sangla Hill incident. — Correspondent