Hundreds of Christians in a Pakistan's Punjab village are staging daily protests, demanding that police drop what they call fabricated charges against 18 believers accused of attacking officers.
Since 14 August, residents of Chak 190 in Sahiwal district have gathered each evening outside their church to call for justice. The village of 36,000 is predominantly Christian, with most families relying on farming.
Police allege that on 8 August, villagers armed with sticks attacked two police vehicles, freed four suspects from custody, and assaulted officers. Officials also claim that uniforms, cash, and other items were stolen during the incident. Eighteen Christians and 50 unidentified villagers were named in the case.
The initial charges included terrorism, an offence carrying penalties up to life imprisonment or even death in Pakistan, but these were later reduced to lesser criminal offences such as resisting arrest and assaulting public servants. Convictions could still lead to prison terms of three months to seven years.
Local Christians insist the accusations are baseless. Dominican priest Fr Nadeem Joseph said the conflict began with a marital dispute involving a Christian policeman and his estranged wife. “In retaliation, he filed a false case against her family,” Fr Joseph explained. He added that police raids on the village were brutal and that a Christian woman with heart problems later died after being caught in the chaos.
Police maintain that three officers were injured and say the case must now proceed in criminal court.
Christian politician Julius Salik, founder of the World Minorities Alliance, has joined the sit-in protest, vowing not to end it until all charges are dropped. “We are law-abiding citizens,” he said. “The police must respect the public and withdraw this case.”
Adapted from reporting by UCA News.
