Faisalabad: Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) highly condemns the attack on Pastor Eliezer Sidhu alias Vicky after the Jaranwala (Faisalabad) Churches and Christians attacks over false blasphemy allegations.

Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) is deeply concerned about the recent threats and fears of Christians in Pakistan rooted to Jaranwala incident.

Since the attacks of Jaranwala on 16 August 2023 in which above 21 Churches and more than hundred houses has burnt, 10000 Christians were moved immediately and 20,000 affected, the aftershocks of incident are continue.

HRFP team met with Pastor Vicky and family in the Civil Hospital (DHQ) Faisalabad, where Pastor Vicky is under emergency medical treatment. Pastor Vicky shared with HRFP team that he was attacked from the same religious elements who wrote the Islamic slogans on the Church wall on 28th August.

Pastor Eliezer Sidhu alias Vicky has been shot by a man when he was travelling back to home in Rehmat Town Khanuana, Faisalabad. FIR number 2608/23 has registered in the local police station, stated that a man shot him, he falls down but survived and the attacker ran away.

Pastor Vicky stated to HRFP team that the attacker forced him first to recite Kalma, then shot him and fled.

HRFP team and volunteers are working on the ground to tackle such situations through legal actions, interfaith dialogues and advocacy efforts with immediate steps for protections and justice. This look most challenging now.

Naveed Walter president of Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) said that as we are demanding to establish a policy & mechanism to resolve the conflicts situations, has not been practiced yet.

Naveed Walter said that the religious fanatics became more violent since the police have registered FIRs against some of the attackers of Jaranwala. The people who are provoking and spreading biased messages against Christians should also be included in rioters list of FIRs, he added. 

Naveed Walter said after Jaranwala attacks, number of incidents has reported in which the Islamic religious elements are making problems, and they are writing Islamic verses on Churches walls. Some reports of same issues have been seen in Karachi, Sarghodha, and Rawalpindi with blasphemy accusations and writing Islamic slogans on the Churches walls.   

Naveed Walter said the Christians are facing worse time under fear and threats in Pakistan. They urge for protections measures from authorities for their immediate actions to ends up the series of violence, he added.

Naveed Walter demands to ban those religious groups that are provoking people to attack on Christians. There are many videos on social media that are being viral, with the contents of asking Islamists to take actions against Christians. The attack on Pastor Eliezer Sidhu alias Vicky and threats is another example of Christians persecution in Pakistan, he added