“We strongly condemn the horrendous incidents of Jaranwala. Our hearts go out to those who were affected and displaced. Islam doesn’t allow any discrimination and persecution,” said the ambassador – Photo Embassy of Pakistan
Pakistanis Stand by Their Christian Brothers and Sisters during This Traumatizing Time: Ambassador Masood Khan
By Elaine Pasquini
Washington: In a meeting on August 23, 2023, at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, Masood Khan, Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, met with members of the region’s interfaith community to condemn the recent attack on the Christian community in Jaranwala, Pakistan.
“August 16 was a dark day for Pakistan,” the ambassador said. “We strongly condemn the horrendous incidents of Jaranwala. Our hearts go out to those who were affected and displaced. Islam doesn’t allow any discrimination and persecution.”
Glimpses of the ambassador’s meeting with interfaith leaders
The ambassador went on to note that Pakistani Prime Minister recently visited Jaranwala on the outskirts of Faisalabad to express solidarity with the victims whose churches were burned and homes vandalized. The entire leadership of Pakistan, civil society, and religious leaders, including Maulana Taqi Usmani, Maulana Tahir Ashrafi and Ameer Jamaal-i-Islami, have strongly condemned the incident and stand by their Christian brothers and sisters during this traumatizing time, he added.
“The government of Pakistan has not only condemned the incident in the clearest and strongest manner, but has also announced compensation for the affected people,” he said.
In addition, Khan related that members of the Jaranwala community had helped rebuild their neighbors’ damaged homes and buildings.
“Ahl-e-Hadis have invited the affected Christians to worship not in the dilapidated churches but in their mosques. This is the true spirit and the real face of Islam,” the ambassador said.
US ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom Rashad Hussain condemned the incident and expressed deepest condolences on behalf of US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and the US government.
“Pakistan is a place that is very dear to my heart,” Hussain said. “My family is from Lahore. It is such a beautiful country in so many respects. To me it hurts when I see events that don’t represent the beauty of Pakistan, the true values of the Pakistani people.”
Ilyas Masih, director of the All Neighbors organization, highlighted that the teachings in the Qur’an, the vision of Quaid-i-Azam and the Constitution of Pakistan all guarantee freedom of religion for everyone.
Many speakers underscored the need for working hand-in-hand to protect the true face of Islam, noting that violent acts committed against Christians and people of other faiths make the fight against Islamophobia even more difficult.
Participants in the embassy discussions highlighted the role of the media and civil society in promoting interfaith harmony and rejecting extremist and discriminatory elements. They were pleased with the commitment being shown by the highest level of the Pakistani government to bring the perpetrators to justice and compensating those affected.
Pakistani-American Christian leaders and members of other faiths expressed their gratitude to the Pakistani government for its strong commitment to protect minorities and particularly its expression of solidarity with the country’s Christian community.
Ambassador Khan thanked the leaders gathered at the embassy for their support and their commitment towards promoting greater understanding among the followers of various religions and societies.
(Elaine Pasquini is a freelance journalist. Her reports appear in the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and Nuze.Ink.)
