Pakistan's religious leaders
condemn brutal murder of young Christian
 |
| Pakistani Christians at a liturgy (AFP) |
Pakistan's Christian and Muslim leaders are calling for
justice for the killers of Saleem and for stopping violence against Christians.
Vatican News
Outrage and condemnation are running high in Pakistan’s
Christian communities following the brutal murder of a 22-year old young
Christian in Kasur district, in Punjab Province.
Saleem Masih was attacked whilst taking a bath in a
tube-well pool belonging to an influential local Muslim landlord.
Accusing him of polluting the pool water, his killers tortured him
brutally causing multiple fractures and internal and external injuries all over
his body.
The murderers kept him for about three days before returning
the body to his family. Taken to a hospital in Lahore Saleem succumbed to
death on 28 February after three agonising days.
Several Christian and Muslim religious leaders met in Lahore
on Wednesday to address the issue and plan their action, the Vatican’s Fides
news agency reported.
At the meeting, chaired by Anglican Bishop Azad Marshal
Raiwind of the Church of Pakistan, were present, among others, Father Francis
Nadeem OFM Cap, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for
Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism (NCIDE) of Pakistan’s Catholic Bishops’
Conference (PCBC), Pastor Emmanuel Khokhar and Islamic leader Muhammad Asim
Makhdoom.
All present "expressed deep regret" over the
episode, a sign of widespread intolerance towards Christians, and also over the
inaction of the police to prevent the crime and releasing the perpetrators soon
after.
“It is the state's responsibility to provide security to all
citizens of the country without any kind of discrimination. All citizens, of
all religions, are equal, contribute to the development of their beloved nation
and deserve equal rights,” Fr Nadeem told Fides. “We are a nation and
live under a single Constitution and a single flag. The state must enforce
these fundamental principles," he added.
Bishop Azad Marshal declared he will file a “First
Information Report against the criminals and will not step back until the
perpetrators receive the appropriate punishment”.
The assembly of religious leaders expressed While expressing
pain and bitterness at the persecution of Christians in Pakistan, the assembly
of religious leaders also recalled the sufferings of Muslims in India, inviting
both countries to avoid discriminatory laws and behaviour and respect the
"principle of citizenship".
The assembly decided to appeal to human rights organizations
of the world “to take immediate action to stop violence against Muslims in India
and against religious minorities in Pakistan”. It also planned to appeal
to the government of Pakistan take practical measures to avoid this type of
incident in the future and bring the perpetrators of Saleem Masih’s murder to
justice and actively promote interreligious harmony in Pakistan. (Source:
Fides)
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