More indication of the grave difficulties Christians face in Pakistan — which is why I keep insisting that any aid to this putative friend and ally should be predicated upon a complete ending of violence toward and discrimination against Christians. From Compass Direct, with thanks to Tom Syseskey:
February 8 (Compass) — A crowd of Muslim women and a few men attacked a Catholic church in Pakistan’s Punjab province last week, injuring two Christian women — one 70 years old — and vandalizing the building.
At least three men and 20 women attacked the Kawanlit village chapel on February 3, leaving 70-year-old Veero Mehnga Masih with broken legs and also injuring Saleema Mazir Masih, 50. The mob broke windows, smashed the altar and burned Bibles.
Despite prompt condemnation of the violence from church leaders across Punjab, police refused to file an official complaint. Kawanlit’s Christians told Compass today that they are powerless to pursue a court case and plan to seek extra-legal reconciliation.
On Monday (February 6), wealthy village landowner Mohammad Iqbal opened a case against eight of Kawanlit’s Christian’s for starting a fight that led to the church destruction. But according to Franciscan parish priest Bernard Bhatti, the eight accused “were not even there” at the time of the church attack. He said the incident stemmed from a property dispute with Iqbal, whose relatives were involved in the attack.