ISLAMABAD, March 18: In view of the sense of insecurity expressed by people affected by the arson attack on Lahore’s Joseph Colony, the Supreme Court directed the Punjab police on Monday to provide protection to the life and property of the community.

The SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, resumed hearing of a case on the incident in which about 180 houses of the Christians had been set on fire.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Joseph Francis, a Lahore-based social activist, on behalf of the residents of the colony.

He told the court through his counsel that despite registration of an FIR against one Sawan Masih in a blasphemy case, vested interests did not allow the process of law to take its course and took law into their own hands.

“They wanted to punish the whole Christian community to avenge and satiate the sentiments of hate,” he said.

He said the barbaric attack had sent a grave message to the already marginalised Christians suffering from increasing sense of insecurity. He said the blasphemy law had been repeatedly used for settling personal scores, religious persecution, professional rivalry and even land-grabbing. Those who torched the houses of the Christians were employees of traders of nearby markets, he said.

The petitioner alleged that government functionaries had failed to protect life and property of the Christians.

“Law-enforcement agencies are shy of taking action against extremists and some of them even have sympathies for outfits promoting extremist culture,” he alleged. Because of police inaction, he said, the Christian community was still feeling insecurity, he said.

Advocate General Punjab (AGP) Ashtar Ausaf produced a progress report on actions the Punjab government had taken to redress the grievances of the residents of the colony.

As the chief justice expressed dissatisfaction over the report, the AGP advised the court to constitute a judicial inquiry if it felt that the police were not conducting proper investigation.

He said the government had changed chief of Lahore police and appointed Amlaish Khan as the new CCPO. He requested the court to grant some time to enable the official to complete investigations.

The court directed CCPO Khan to ensure protection of the Christian community and take stern action against those responsible for the arson to prevent recurrence of such incidents. The hearing was adjourned till March 25.