TAXILA: Members of the Christian community, led by family members of the two young Christian boys who were shot and injured by local influential people in broad daylight, staged a protest outside Wah Saddar police station demanding justice.

The protesters carried placards inscribed with slogans like: ‘Christians lives matters’, ‘Maseehi Aqlieeat ko Insaf Do’, ‘Save Christians in Pakistan’, ‘We Want Justice’ and ‘We Need Peace in Wah Cantt’.

Talking to journalists, they said Rajish Bhatti and his cousin Naqash Bhatti were shot and injured in broad daylight on the road near their house by two brothers of a local family, allegedly over a petty dispute in Ismailabad on May 5. Police have failed to arrest the suspects despite being provided video evidence of the incident.

“We are living under threat and fear as the suspect is influential and still at large,” they said, adding being minority members of the society, they were running from pillar to post to get justice.

Later, after being assured by police that they would be provided protection and justice, the protesters peacefully disbursed.

When contacted, Sub Divisional Police Officer Waqas Khan said soon after the incident, police had registered a case against under sections 324 and 34 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on the complaint of the injured. He added that the suspects were on interim bail which is why they had not been arrested.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2022