Christian residents of Hadyara village on the outskirts of Lahore fear their church will be razed by a growing Muslim mob angry that Christian prayers were aired by loudspeaker during Fajr prayers on Wednesday.Christian villagers say young men armed with steel bars and guns stormed the New Apostolic Church, established before Partition, in the morning. They beat up worshippers including a child and damaged property, and alleged that announcements were made through mosque loudspeakers asking Muslims from nearby villages for a “final attack”. Other announcements urged businesses and farmers not to allow Christians on to their properties.
Public representatives and local police at the scene have been able so far to stop such an attack, and more policemen were reported to have been sent to Hadyara on Wednesday night.
Union Council 65 Nazim Maqsood Ahmad said he and other public representatives had visited the area and tried to calm people on both sides.
The Human Liberation Commission of Pakistan condemned the incident and urged senior Lahore police officials to protect the Christians.
Senior police officials denied knowledge of the incident.