Justice Denied: Two Years Later, Christian Victims of Jaranwala Riots Still Await Accountability
June 19, 2025
Nearly two years after the Jaranwala riots, justice remains out of reach for Pakistan’s Christian community. Despite widespread destruction and hundreds of arrests, not a single conviction has been secured.
Nearly a year after the horrific mob violence that engulfed the Christian community in Jaranwala, Faisalabad, Pakistan on August 16, 2023, justice remains elusive. Despite the scale of destruction over two dozen churches and hundreds of homes of Christians torched or ransacked not a single conviction has been secured for the attacks. The acquittal last week of 10 men accused of burning a Salvation Army church in Chak 651/2 GB underscores the ongoing failure of the justice system to protect Pakistan’s religious minorities.
In a judgment handed down on June 12, 2025, Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Javed Iqbal Sheikh acquitted all 10 accused, including Ausaf Ali and his sons, citing lack of evidence. The prosecution, according to the court, failed to prove the charges. These men had been arrested at the crime scene by Lundianwala police and were among the 142 nominated suspects listed in 22 First Information Reports (FIRs) filed after the violence.
However, human rights advocates and Christian leaders say the outcome was the result of a flawed and negligent investigation, one they believe was deliberately mishandled.
“Despite strong witness testimonies and the identification of suspects in jail parades, the police chose to ignore critical evidence,” said Akmal Bhatti, counsel for the church and a Christian home that was ransacked. “We had testimony from 23 witnesses, including three Christians who were present at the scene, but it was disregarded.”
Bhatti, also chairman of Minorities Alliance Pakistan (MAP), vowed to challenge the verdict in the Lahore High Court, where three related cases are still under trial. He emphasized that the problem lies not just with the court's decision, but with the deeply defective police investigations. According to Bhatti, even the testimony of Siddique Masih, whose home was looted alongside the church, was not given due consideration, despite Masih positively identifying the accused.
Amnesty International recently echoed similar concerns. Of the 5,213 suspects identified in the aftermath of the Jaranwala attacks, only 380 were arrested. Of those, 228 were released on bail and 77 had charges dropped entirely. The vast majority of suspects, over 4,800, remain unaccounted for.
“Despite the authorities’ assurances of accountability, the grossly inadequate action has allowed a climate of impunity for the perpetrators of the Jaranwala violence,” said Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia.
The violence in Jaranwala was triggered by a false accusation of blasphemy against two Christian brothers. Amplified by mosque loudspeakers and viral videos, the allegation incited mobs of thousands. Investigations later revealed that the accused brothers had been framed by another Christian man over a personal dispute. They were acquitted of all blasphemy charges by an anti-terrorism court.
However, the damage had been done. Over two dozen churches, hundreds of Bibles, and scores of Christian homes were reduced to ashes. Yet, years later, the victims are left watching the accused walk free while they continue to rebuild their lives in fear and despair.
“Even Yaseen, the man who incited the mob through loudspeaker announcements, has been granted bail,” said Samuel Pyara, chairman of the Implementation of Minority Rights Forum. “One key figure who used a crane to demolish churches, Irfan Younas, also secured bail — though we successfully challenged it in the High Court.”
The acquittals have further deepened the Christian community’s mistrust in the state’s willingness to protect minorities. Faisalabad police, for their part, maintain that legal proceedings are still underway. Spokesperson Muhammad Tariq confirmed that one key suspect, Saleem Ali, has recently been re-arrested after being declared an absconder, and that legal proceedings are progressing.
But activists remain unconvinced. Many Christian lawyers who initially took up the Jaranwala cases did so on a voluntary basis. Due to a lack of institutional support and misuse of donor funds by some church-affiliated organizations, many of them have since withdrawn, leaving cases in limbo.
“Funds donated by foreign partners to pursue legal recourse were not utilized properly,” Bhatti alleged. “This betrayal has compounded the suffering of our people.”
The Jaranwala riots are a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws, and the institutional failures that prevent justice. With Pakistan ranked 8th on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List for Christian persecution, the urgent need for legal reform and police accountability cannot be overstated.
As the Christian community approaches the second anniversary of the Jaranwala tragedy, their cries for justice remain unanswered — their faith in the system, all but shattered.