Attacks at the Youhanabad churches were an enemy conspiracy: Liaqat Baloch

Lahore: Secretary General, Jamaat e Islami, Liaqat Baloch, has said that the recent attacks at the Youhanabad churches were an enemy conspiracy aimed at dividing the country and the Pakistani nation. He was talking to the media after a visit to the Saint John Catholic and Christ Churches at Yuhanna Abad and a meeting with Father Francis Gulzar on Tuesday.

Liaqat Baloch said that the enemies of the Christians and the Muslims were the enemy of Pakistan while peace and co-existence were common objectives of the two peoples.

Liaqat Baloch further said that the burning to death of two Muslims at Youhanabad was also a gruesome activity and the government must track down and punish those involved in that in accordance with the law.  However, he said, that under the cover of that, the families of the culprits should not be harassed.  The Punjab Chief Minister should constitute JIT and a monitoring team for the purpose, he added. He was accompanied by Dr Farid Ahmed Paracha, minority leaders Shahid Gulzar, MPA Shakil and Pastor Shakir.

The JI central leader said that the terrorists had been targeting mosques, imambargahs, tombs,  schools and security forces and institutions but the morale of the nation was high, and he was confident that the nation would defeat the enemy through complete unity and unanimity.

To a question about the Gulf situation, Liaqat Baloch said that Pakistan and Turkey could play a mediatory role between Saudi Arabia and Yemen and bring Riyadh and Tehran closer. He added that the   protection Saudi Arabia’s solidarity and the sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain was the duty of the entire Muslim world.

Talking o to the media on the occasion, Father Francs Gulzar said that the visit of the JI leaders  had given new courage to the Christian community at Youhanabad. He said that those responsible for the burning to death to two Muslims must be punished but innocent people should not be targeted in this regard.