Faisalabad: On Saturday at Tehsil Headquarters, Gojra Seven persons, including two women and
three children, burnt alive while more than 50 injured in violence over violation of Quran in
nearby village Koriaan evidently by three Christians over a marriage ceremony. Fifty houses
burnt, and looted by angry crowd. Police arrested more than 100 people. The clash and exchange
of fire took place between two groups in Al-awan Colony in front of Gojra Railway Station.
In Tehsil Gojra the tension started between Muslims and Christians. The Punjab Chief Minister
Shahbaz Sharif ordered judicial inquiry into the event under the District and Sessions Judge. For
negligence DSP Gojra immediately suspended. The Rangers called for sustained law and order in
the region. Sana Ullah Khan and Dost Muhammad Khosa, Punjab Ministers, who supervised
relief and rescue work. They added that “those who took law in their hands in the incident would
be dealt with an iron hand.” More than 50 houses have been set on fire and more than 100 have
been robbed. Both groups took positions on their rooftops. As police baton-charged, fired gas
shells and fired in the air to control the aggressive crowd who took control of Gojra Railway
Station. As a result, train service between Faisalabad and Karachi remained closed for 10 hours
and passengers faced severe problems in hot weather. According to police sources, more than 50
people injured and 19 of them serious who admitted in hospital. More than 100 looters curved up
and cases against more than 1000 people have been registered by police. Six policemen,
including DSP, and TMO Gojra Muhammad Nawaz injured in fight.
Anjuman-e-Tajran Gojra and religious parties jointly called for shutter down strike and arranged
a protest meeting at Malkanwala, Gojra where speakers made intense speeches. After the
meeting, a group of activist took out a procession. When the procession passed near Al-awan
Colony Gojra opposite Railway Station, some armed people of competitor group fired gunshots,
in which one activist Asif Ansari killed, while six counting Ali Raza, Zubair, Sarwar, Nadeem,
Safdar and Nadeem injured and moved to hospital.
Armed clash followed by stones throwing from both sides. Activist blocked the roads and
railway tracks by burning tires, and looted goods. The event gave rise to tension in Gojra city.
Dost Muhammed Khosa, Kamran Michael provincial minister and Faisalabad Commissioner
Tahir Hussain and CPO Police reached at the spot to discuss with the protester, but could not
succeed to sustained law and order and manage the protesting crowd. Dead bodies shifted to
Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Gojra. |