Amid increasing attacks on religious minorities in Pakistan, Islamabad police on Thursday set up a 70-member special unit to "defend places of worship and religious services". minority communities" in the nation's capital.
Islamabad police said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter: “70 jawan (police) have been appointed to the 'Minority Protection Unit'.
He said all county police officers will be responsible for protecting places of worship and minority communities in their areas.
The unit, established on the recommendations of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities, will carry out its functions under the supervision of the activities of the SSP.
"Relationships with minority committees will be strengthened at each departmental level," the police added. He added that the unit's officers were also selected from a recent recruitment by the Minority Protection Unit.
The move comes a day after an angry mob looted and burned 21 churches and several Christian homes over allegations of blasphemy in the town of Jaranwala in the district of Faisalabad, a short walk from Lahore, the capital. government of Punjab province 130 km.
A Christian cemetery and the local deputy commissioner's office were also vandalized.
On Thursday, police in the Jaranwala area imposed a 'curfew-like' measure to restore peace and arrested more than 100 suspects, including militants from the Tehreek Islamic extremist force- i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), for their alleged involvement in the one-day violence. earlier.
More than 3,000 police and two companies of Pakistani Rangers were deployed in Jaranwala following Wednesday's riots. The government imposed Article 144 banning gatherings of four or more people in Jaranwala. In addition, all educational institutions, malls, and markets remain closed in Jaranwala on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has issued a directive to set up a high-level investigative committee to investigate the incident, at the behest of Acting Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar.
The incident sparked nationwide outrage from all political parties, civil society, and the media.
Minorities, including Christians and Hindus in Pakistan, are often the subject of blasphemy charges and some have been tried and even convicted of blasphemy. heavy supplement. According to a report by the Pakistan Center for Peace and Justice last June, based on data collected from the National Registry and Database, Pakistan is home to 22,10,566 community members. minority Hindus, then 18,73,348 Christians.
