[ADN Kronos] Pakistani Christians closed their schools and colleges across the country for three days from Monday to protest against the killings of eight Christians burnt to death at the weekend. Hundreds of Muslims, apparently spurred by a banned militant group, stormed a Christian neighbourhood in the eastern city of Gojra on Saturday, burning dozens of houses after reports surfaced that some Christians had desecrated a Koran. Six Christians died in flames, while two were killed by gunshots. Christian leaders and Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said an initial probe had debunked the Koran defilement rumour.
"We are closing the schools to show our anger and concern," Bishop Sadiq Daniel told the media. "We want the government to bring all perpetrators of the crime to justice."
Paramilitary troops and other security forces were patrolling the city Monday and an official inquiry will be held into the incident.
Christians and Muslims usually live together peacefully in Pakistan, which is overwhelmingly Muslim. However, Christians and other minority religious groups are vulnerable to discriminatory laws, including an edict against blasphemy that carries death penalty for derogatory remarks or any other action against Islam, the Koran or the Prophet Mohammed.
So actually they get along as long as the Christians keep their heads down and their mouths shut.
Hundreds of Muslim protesters set fire to several Christians' houses in the first two days, but the violence reached its peak Saturday. Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti said the attackers belonged to a banned Sunni Muslim extremist group, Sipah-i-Sahaba. Officials have tried to calm the situation.
"This is not the work of Muslims. A group of extremists have exploited the situation," Sanaullah told a group of Christians after the funeral prayers for the deceased late Sunday.