Supreme Court set to address Jaranwala violence case tomorrow.

 Supreme Court set to address Jaranwala violence case tomorrow. 

Old Supreme Court photo

The Supreme Court (SC) is set to address a deeply troubling case tied to the mob attack on Christian homes and places of worship in Jaranwala, a town within Faisalabad's industrial district that recently grabbed global headlines.

A three-member bench of the apex court will attentively listen to a miscellaneous petition filed by the courageous minority leader, Samuel Pyaray, who earnestly seeks acknowledgment of the heart-wrenching Jaranwala tragedy.

On that fateful day of August 16, a charged crowd, incited by the fiery calls for protests from mosque clerics, unleashed destruction upon several churches and residences in Jaranwala, all in the name of alleged blasphemy. This brutal mob not only vandalized but also pillaged valuables from Christian homes that had been vacated by their terrified occupants due to the incitement.

Tomorrow, the bench will be presided over by the esteemed Justice Ijaz-Ul-Ahsan, accompanied by Justice Muneeb Akhtar and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, as they collectively seek justice and resolution in the wake of this horrendous incident.

Remarkably, this is the second time this crucial petition has been slated for a hearing. Last month, CJP Bandial had convened a three-member bench, which included himself, Justice Athar Minallah, and Justice Shahid Waheed, to address the pleas related to the Jaranwala incident. The bench was initially expected to deliberate on the matter on August 22, with notices dispatched to all parties involved. However, the Supreme Court postponed the hearing, citing the absence of the police report from the Human Rights Cell.

Pyare, the petitioner, had shared, "I was told by the Supreme Court that the case is scheduled for hearing tomorrow [Tuesday], but I was later informed that the Human Rights Cell report on the incident has not yet been received, which is why the hearing will not take place."

At the height of the turmoil, over 5,000 individuals descended upon the neighborhood from different districts, with smaller groups venturing into narrow alleyways, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

In the aftermath, Christian families endured a harrowing night in fields and desolate areas, desperately seeking safety after their homes were ravaged and assaulted. Some families were forced to relocate to different areas, seeking refuge with relatives.

In response to this horrific incident, two cases were filed against the arsonists in Jaranwala, including charges of terrorism and blasphemy, alongside 13 other provisions. This legal action named 37 suspects while encompassing more than 600 unidentified individuals under investigation.

Furthermore, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) apprehended two individuals suspected of inciting violence against minority places of worship through mosque announcements in Faisalabad's Jaranwala.

In a commendable effort to probe this tragic occurrence, promote interfaith and interdenominational unity, and combat extremist narratives, the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) and Church of Pakistan collaborated to establish a 24-member committee on August 20. This signifies a critical step toward healing and reconciliation in the wake of such a grievous incident that shook the nation and the world.