HYDERABAD, Feb 25: Two bishops have urged the government to provide protection to members of their community in Sindh in the wake of burning of Saviour’s and St Mary’s churches in Sukkur.

They called upon ulema to play their due role in bringing the two communities closer to each other.

Bishop Rafiq Masih and Bishop J. Max Rodrequiez, who were accompanied by Father Daniel Fayyaz, Ishaq and Father John Murad, were speaking at a press conference at the St. Thomas church, Civil Lines, here on Saturday.

They said Christians were never involved in incidents of burning of the Holy Quran but in subsequent events, they suffered heavy losses to property and felt insecure.

They condemned publication of blasphemous cartoons in European newspapers and demanded elements responsible be punished.

They said they were as loyal to Pakistan as any other Pakistani could be.

They said their worship places and properties were the assets of the country and members of the community were playing an important role in development of the country. 

“We, however, regret the harm caused to our properties in the country, these are burnt while considering us foreigners,” they said while referring to incidents of Sangla Hill, Shanti Nagar and burning of churches in Sukkur.

They said they had always urged their community to exercise restraint in the wake of such incidents.