You might have received reports and news on killing of two Christian brothers, accused of blasphemy, killed in the premises of Session Courts Faisalabad, Pakistan. I hope both governments (Provincial and Federal) will try their best to control the situation; however the provincial government is more responsible for the law and order matters. The government is always concerned about keeping law and order and trying to defuse the situation, while the victims, whether they are fearful or furious, struggle to highlight the situation both nationally and globally. Although the media is reporting the incident, however the Pakistan government always seeks to give anti-minority attacks a low profile to avoid provocation in other parts of the country.

Christian and other human rights organisations seek a permanent solution to these murderous attacks which happen from time to time under the guise of the blasphemy  law and so demands to abolish the blasphemy law have become more vibrant and vocal. Building on reports and news, we have been receiving from few days, I produce a note to share our concern with the friends and partners in the communion and elsewhere.

Two brothers, Rashid Emmanuel (aged 32) and Sajad Emmanuel (aged 24), residents of Daud Nagar, a huge Christian settlement in Faisalabad, the third largest city in Pakistan after Karachi and Lahore, were attacked and were fatally shot by extremists in the District Courts Faisalabad on July 19, 2010 while attending a court hearing.

Rashid Emmanuel was a pastor working with a congregational church and his brother Sajjid Emmanuel was helping him in the ministry; both were involved in evangelistic activities, which is constitutionally allowed in Pakistan.

Muhammad Khuram Shezad merchant of Railway Bazaar, Faisalabad, had complained that his servant told him that both Christian accused were distributing pamphlets, which contained their phone numbers, which were reportedly desecrating Mohammad. He went to the Police Station and told the police to charge these two young Christian men under the blasphemy law. Thus a blasphemy case was registered against them on 1st July, 2010, under section 295- C of the Pakistan Penal Code, and they were arrested by police on July 4, 2010. Since then they had been kept under police custody.

The extremists were active from day one of the initial alleged incident of blasphemy and actively started a protest on July 10, 2010 in the evening in Waris Pura and Daud Nagar. Some Muslim Mulanas (religious leaders) gathered at Daud Nagar street no. 6, in the evening at 7:00 p.m. under the leadership of Mushtaq Insari, a local Muslim councillor, to protest against the Christian Community residing in the area.

I have news through reliable (not media) sources that the investigating officer of the police, Muhammad Hussain, told the court that complainant Muhammad Khuram Shehzad lodged the First Investigation Report (FIR) alleging that Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel produced a handwritten leaflet which defiled Muhammad. However the police have a report from a Handwriting expert that the handwriting in the pamphlet presented by Muhammad Khuram did not match with handwriting of the accused Christian brothers. The police said that there were no further investigations needed and no proof to justify keeping them in police custody. The court committed Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel to custody till the next court hearing.

As there were rumours that Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel were to be found innocent and were going to be released, the extremists went to the District Courts Faisalabad and were waiting for them to come out of the court house.

The security staff at the gate of the Session Court Faisalabad and in other courts usually confiscate knives and potential weapons. It is difficult to comprehend how killers managed to take weapons inside the court premises.

As Rashid Emmanuel and Sajjid Emmanuel were walking towards district courts custody cell with police, the unidentified gunmen opened fire and killed them. 

On Monday evening, there was a meeting in the Catholic Bishop’s House Faisalabad, the Regional Police Officer, the Senior Superintendent of Police (Robin Yamin a Christian officer), Pir Mohammad Ibrahim from International Religious Peace Committee, some pastors from the congregational churches, a few Catholic Fathers including the Most Revd. Bishop Joseph Coutts, a Christian member of the Provincial Assembly, some people from the local organizations and the family of the victims.

The government is concerned about keeping law and order and trying to defuse the situation, while the Christians are fearful as well furious. Christian and other human rights organisations seek a permanent solution to these murderous attacks which happen from time to time under the pretext of the blasphemy law and so demands to abolish the blasphemy law have become more vibrant and vocal.

Government’s initiative (Federal, Provincial and Punjab Police)

President Asif Ali Zardari asked the Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, who will be meeting you on 24^th October this year, to investigate and report on the matter. He also instructed the provincial government to pay compensation to the family of the victims. PM, Yousaf Raza Gilani, phoned Mr. Shahbaz Sharif, the Chief Minister of Punjab, who apprised him of the situation. The Prime Minister, according to the media reports, pledged the “full support” of the federal government to the Punjab government, so as to bring normalcy again to Faisalabad.

A number of local police officers have been suspended because of their professional negligence. A Gojra-like situation” could take place in Faisalabad if law enforcement agencies fail to restore law and order in the city.

The heavy deployment of police remained in place in the area as does Section 144ⁱ, which was imposed on Monday night.

To guard against further rioting, extra police personnel have been summoned from Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Lahore and Rawalpindi. The police Commission in Faisalabad refused to give a timeframe for the removal of extra security, saying it is going to remain in place for some time yet as the situation is still potentially volatile.’ (Media reports)

Judiciary’s intervention

There has been an emergence of judicial activism in Pakistan since the restoration of Judiciary during Pervaiz Musharaf’s time. The Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) took suo motu notice on Tuesday 20^th July of the killing of the two Christian brothers and directed the Regional Police Officer (RPO) Faisalabad Aftab Cheema to appear in court on Wednesday with a full report on the incident, along with the advocate general Punjab.

It is hopeful news as on one hand a judicial enquiry will be more reliable but on the other , previous experience leaves me pessimistic – there is still no action on Gojra report. A judicial inquiry commission constituted by the Punjab government headed by Justice Iqbal Hameed ur Rehman, Judge of Lahore High Court, has already submitted to the government its report on the Gojra incident, when eight people were burnt alive in 2009. Unfortunately it has not yet become public. Your delegation raised this issue with the legal community in Lahore during the visit in 2009.

Yesterday a statement issued by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said the killing of Rashid Emmanuel and his brother Sajid highlights the government's failure to protect its citizens, especially the minorities.

We are keeping in touch with the situation through the Pakistan Focus Group of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Church of Pakistan, leaders of the other Christian Churches in Pakistan and human rights organisations.

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