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KARACHI, Feb 20: Bishop Sadiq Daniel of the Karachi-Balochistan Diocese has demanded a judicial inquiry into the attack on churches in Sukkur on Sunday, and has advised Muslims, particularly ulema, not to be misled by conspirators and miscreants “who would leave no occasion to turn the heat of even a personal dispute towards the Christian community and their places of worship.”
Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Monday, Bishop Daniel, who was accompanied by his fellow clergymen, pointed out that what prompted the Sukkur incident was a dispute between two relatives and had nothing at all to do with the Christian community. The vested interests, he said, had actually exploited the situation by portraying the act of a person involved as desecration of holy Quran by a Christian.
He recalled that in a similar situation earlier, the entire Shanti Nagar village had been destroyed, and those responsible could not be taken to task till date.
He hoped that an inquiry would be held in the Sukkur incident and those found responsible would be punished under the relevant laws.
Bishop Daniel said that not a single Christian could even think of hurting the feelings of any Muslim or follower of any other religion.
MMA: Denouncing the Sukkur incident, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal legislators Nasrullah Shaji, Younus Barai and Hamidullah Khan on Monday said that the provincial government had failed in protecting the places of worship and maintaining law and order. Instead of merely condemning the incident, it should step down, they added.
They noted that minorities had also been taking part in the ongoing anti-blasphemy protests, and pointed out that no harm was caused to them or their sacred places in such protests.
Meanwhile, the Karachi Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami, Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui, has condemned the incident, and reminded Muslims that any attack on the place of worship of any religion was against the teachings of Islam. He said that it was the responsibility of the government to ensure protection to the life, property and shrines of all minorities.
