MARDAN, Sept 28: National harmony minister Akram Masih Gill on Friday condemned the Sept 21 mob attack on Sarhadi Lutheran Church and adjoining buildings as a conspiracy against the country and said involvement of a foreign hand couldn’t be ruled out in the terrorist activity.

Talking to reporters at Mardan Circuit House after visiting the church, the minister, the minister said attackers used chemicals to burn down Mardan church as happened in Gojra and Sangla Hill, where mobs torched churches.

“No Muslim could be involved in the attack. We’ve arrested six suspects and are likely to reach its mastermind soon,” he said.

He said personnel of law-enforcement agencies had been working in light of the videos and pictures of the mob attack.

Mr Gill said the government would conduct a judicial inquiry into the church attack if a need arose and would bear expenses of the destroyed structures’ reconstruction and renovation.

He said he visited the church on the prime minister’s orders.