FAISALABAD, Dec 20: Christian leaders have demanded the government should depute a high court judge to conduct a probe into Sangla Hill incident so that the real culprits could be taken to task.

At a meeting of the National Commission for Justice and Peace here at a hotel on Tuesday, Faisalabad Bishop Joseph Coutts, Father Nisar Barkat, Afab Ahmed, Khalid Rasheed and advocate Tahir Khaleel Sindhu and others demanded the government should immediately order the release of Yousaf Masih who was rounded up in connection with the incident.

They said proceedings of an inquiry ordered by the government were not up to the mark.

They alleged the use of Blasphemy Act against innocent people had become a routine in the country, demanding repeal of all discriminatory laws.

They said the government should also take appropriate measures to reduce the tension in Sangla Hill and bridge the gap between the Muslims and minority Christians to avoid any untoward incident in future.

They also deplored government inaction in connection with burning of Christian girls’ hostels, institutions and staff residences in Sangla Hill.

They said despite passage of 38 days, no finding of any of the reports about the Sangla incident could be brought before the media, which they termed negligence on the part of the authorities concerned.

District Peace Committee head Pir Muhammad Ibrahim demanded the government should include a Bishop and a Muslim representative in the judicial inquiry into the incident.

Jameeat Ahl-i-Hadith Naib Amir Maulana Yousaf Anwar said all the innocent persons arrested in connection with the incident should be released and efforts be made to restore the confidence of the minority population of the area.

Qari Ghulam Rasool, Allama Tahirul Hassan, Jaafar Naqvi, Atif Jameel, Sardar Gormit Singh and other leaders also spoke on the occasion.

Meanwhile, Christian leader Father Bonnie Mendes has expressed concern over failure of the government in making public the findings of judicial probe conducted by a district and sessions judge into the Sangla Hill riots.

At a press conference held at Toba Tek Singh on Tuesday, he also showed dissatisfaction over the action taken against the miscreants who had created law and order situation on the pretext of alleged desecration of the Holy Quran.

He demanded repeal of section 295 B and C, and urged the federal government to implement the proposals prepared by March 22 meeting of minorities held in Islamabad under religious affairs ministry.