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Four, including 11-year-old boy, wounded in crossfire; houses and shops set ablaze: Pro-Taliban graffiti on church walls spurs violence

By Faraz Khan

KARACHI: Law enforcement agencies have imposed a virtual curfew in Sarjani Town after four persons, including a boy, were wounded in crossfire between two groups, which broke out when pro-Taliban slogans were found painted on the walls of a church on Wednesday.

At least two houses, over half a dozen shops, pushcarts and roadside stalls were set ablaze by unidentified men. Heavy contingents of police and Rangers were called to the scene, however, it took them many hours to ease the tense situation in the area, while routine and commercial life in the area was suspended. Law enforcers carried out a door-to-door search operation to arrest the culprits behind the riots, they were able to detain around seven persons from the area and seized weapons including a Kalashnikov and five pistols from their possession.

However, police officials declined the presence of Taliban in the area and believed it to be a conspiracy by elements who want to disturb the peace of the city. The church, where pro-Taliban slogans such as, ‘Taliban zindabad, Islam zindabad, Christians Islam qabol karo’ were found, is located near Khuda Ki Basti, Taiser Town, within the jurisdiction of Sarjani police station.

When the slogans were discovered, scores of people belonging to the Christian community gathered on the road and staged a protest. Witnesses revealed that while strongly criticising the Awami National Party (ANP), Pakhtoons and the Taliban, the protestors chanted slogans against them such as ‘Taliban murdabad, ANP murdabad and Pakhtoons murdabad’. They burnt tyres and pelted passing vehicles with stones. During the riots, they also set ablaze over half a dozen shops, including pushcarts and roadside stalls owned by Pakhtoons.

In retaliation, hundreds of Pakhtoons also gathered at the scene and after an exchange of hot words, the two groups clashed and restored to firing. As a result, three persons belonging to the Christian community and one person from the Pakhtoon group, sustained injuries and were shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

The injured include Emran Masih, 35, Qudoos Masih, 30 and eleven-year-old boy Irfan Masih, while the rival group member was called Rozi Khan. After the crossfire, unidentified men set ablaze two houses owned by Christians. There were some unconfirmed reports that the people belonging to both groups also entered into each others houses where they misbehaved with the women and beat the children.

East Zone Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Zafar Abbas Bukhari, while talking to Daily Times, stated that one house owned by a member of the Christian community and around five shops owned by Pakhtoons were set ablaze in the riots; seven miscreants were arrested from the spot and weapons were recovered from their possession.

“No Taliban element is present in the area,” the DIG stated. “The slogans that were written on the church are part of a conspiracy by elements who, for a long time, want to disturb peace in the city.” However, an inquiry committee has been formed to probe into the matter.

The DIG further said that he cannot say that the law and order situation in the area is completely under control but the situation is better now and heavy contingents of law enforcers have been deployed in the area.

ANP Provincial General Secretary Amin Khattak, while talking to Daily Times, declined the presence of Taliban in the area. “If any Pakhtoon has a dispute with any non-Muslim, it is his personal matter and not that of the party,” he said.

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