GUJRANWALA, Pakistan — Hundreds of Muslims in Gujranwala on April 30 attacked Christians’ homes, a school and a Presbyterian church building after learning that police had released two Christians accused of “blasphemy” — amid reports of another alleged desecration of the Quran.
Mushtaq Gill and his son Farrukh Mushtaq were released April 29 after a handwriting expert hired by police determined that the latter had not written a threatening note accompanying burned pages of the Quran, police sources said.
On April 30, however, as news of their release spread, a Muslim claimed that pages of the Quran had been burned in Gujranwala’s Aziz Colony cemetery in Punjab province. Announcements over area mosque loudspeakers began blaring, and Muslim residents and members of extremist groups began gathering. The mob started rioting and hurling rocks at the houses of Christians, including a school owned by a Christian, Eric Isaac, who was among eight Christians police took into custody for questioning, as well as at a neighborhood church building. At least 18 people — 15 Muslim protestors and three policemen — were injured and had to be hospitalized after police used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob. There were no reports of injured Christians. Around 150 protestors were arrested, with two cases registered against them for attacking Christian property and “creating a law-and-order situation.”
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