Mohammad Saleem

FAISALABAD, June 22: Police have asked the Christians of Chak 248-RB, who were attacked over a Church ceremony on June 16, to settle the issue at a panchayat or village council instead of in the court of law, Dawn learnt on Friday.

Up to 40 Muslims attacked the Christians when they were busy in convention arrangements. Ten people were injured and scores left the village to save their lives. Now, many of them have returned to their homes.

Faryad, convention organiser, told Dawn police had pressured the Christians to withdraw the charge of attack on the Church ceremony. He said they had hired tents, chairs and trailer to set up a stage, which proved the convention had been planned.

Punjab Assembly member Joel Aamir and Pakistan Muslim League office-bearer Mian Iqbal were invited as chief guests.

A boy requesting not to be named said a union council nazim and some other influential wanted to suppress the Christians with the connivance of police. He said police officials were hell-bent on proving the incident a routine brawl.

Gulzaran Bibi, who was also injured in the clash, said senior police officials could see if their houses were attacked or not. She said the attackers broke into Christians’ houses and thrashed the inmates.

The Christians have offered to buy the sole Muslim house outside the church so that their rituals do not provoke the Muslims in the future.

Locals said a committee had been constituted under the pressure of the police to resolve the issue.

A five-member delegation of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance visited the area and assured the victims their support.

Dajkot Supervisory Police Officer Malik Khalid said both parties were ready to resolve the matter through negotiation. He said the convention was not attacked but the organisers postponed it following a clash over a garbage issue.

No arrest has been made from either side as four Christians and 41 Muslims were booked in two cases.