Christians arrested after Muslim attack in Pakistan

KARACHI, Pakistan — In the wake of an attack in February by 150 armed Muslims on a Christian colony in Karachi in Sindh province, police have filed a false First Information Report (FIR) against 40 unnamed Christians and arrested five, Christian leaders said. They said the 40 unnamed Christians in the FIR are accused without basis with beating Muslim men, abusing Muslim women and girls, ransacking Muslim homes and looting expensive items from Muslim homes. The false FIR is designed only to harass the Christian community, they said, adding that the five arrested Christians were visitors to the area — the only ones on the street available for police to summarily round up since the visitors were unaware of the FIR.

Some 150 armed Muslims assaulted the Christian colony of Pahar Ganj in North Nazimabad, Karachi, on Feb. 21, damaging two churches, shooting at houses, beating Christians and burning shops and vehicles after a fruit stand vendor attacked a Christian boy for touching his merchandise. Christian leaders said Muslim extremists helped gather and inflame the assailants, but they said the fruit stand vendor upset with the 14-year-old boy initially instigated the attack. Pastor Edward Joseph of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Karachi said the furious Muslim mob attacked homes, St. Mary’s Church of Pakistan and the Interdenominational Calvary Church. Sources said local politicians and clergymen from both sides were trying to broker a truce.