Justice Qazi Faez Isa, senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court (SC), visited Faisalabad district’s Jaranwala tehsil on Saturday to inquire about the situation of the local Christian community after Wednesday’s riots over alleged blasphemy.
Justice Isa, who will take over as Chief Justice of Pakistan next month, was briefed by police and civil administration at Jaranwala’s Daanish School.
He also met the victims of the displaced minority community and expressed deep sorrow over the incident. Justice Isa also visited an affected church and settlement that was attacked by a violent mob.
Justice Isa further told him that he had brought some “food packets” for them, which he acknowledged were akin to a “drop in the ocean”.
“We want others to do the same,” he added. “Who has the greatest responsibility? [It is] Muslims. They should help you,” the SC judge said.
“Why leave everything to the state?” he asked, noting the glacial pace of state machinery to “tenders, etc”, which would take time.
Read: No room for Jaranwala-like incidents in Pakistan: Aneeq Ahmed
Justice Isa asked the Christian leader to see who needed aid the most according to their financial status and accordingly distribute the items.
Speaking to the Christian victims, he said, “If anyone attacks churches, it is the responsibility of Muslims [to catch] the attackers.”
Justice Isa expressed his displeasure with the deputy commissioner and said three days had passed since the incident had occurred but the affected streets had not been cleaned. He instructed the deputy commissioner to ensure cleanliness of the streets of Christian Colony immediately.
He then communicated with the residents about which other areas needed help and asked that he be taken there.
