14 years on: Day of Remembrance for Christian victims of Shanti Nagar by Taskeen Khan
February 07, 2010

Hundreds of Pakistani Christians from different walks of life gathered in Shanti Nagar, a Christian-majority village in Khanewal district in Punjab province, to pay tribute to those who got martyred in a savage attack by Islamic extremists.

Local Salvation Army Church organised a Special Remembrance Service to mark the 14th anniversary.

Among the clergy were Pastor Peter John of Yahowah Nassi Church, Pastor Hezekiel Sarosh, Pastor Arshad Nazami of host Salvation Army Church, Pastor Abdul Masih of UGA Church and Rev Simon Shahbaz of Assemblies of God and it was  a service to be remembered for great unity.

On February 6, 1997, thousands of Islamic protesters descended on the village with placards stating: "Kill the Christians because they are “blasphemers” towards the Quran and prophet Mohammad." In the village of Shanti Nagar, 4 Churches were burnt, 785 houses were destroyed and 2,500 Christian forced to flee. The mob violence used same incendiary devices which were also used in Bahinwala, Korian and Gojra.

The Shanti Nagar victims organised hunger strike in front of Punjab Assembly building Lahore for compensation of lost of property and demand to repeal blasphemy laws in 1997.

It was remembered in this meeting that suffering Christian families were not awarded any compensation nor blasphemy law is repealed after 14 years.

In this meeting, participants praised God that HE saved them in that burning fire and thanked all Christian brothers and sisters who helped them in tough time by providing food and shelter.

Through this meeting a message was delivered to children that they shall not forget their past that what was happened in this village, Shanti Nagar.

The gathering also condemned killing of Shazia Bashir Masih and demanded justice for teenage Christian girl.

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