Unveiling the Impact: By the Numbers – The Jarawala Incident in Faisalabad, Pakistan 

August 25, 2023

In the aftermath of the accused blasphemy charges, here's a stark glimpse into the Jarawala incident in Faisalabad, Pakistan, where numbers reveal the devastating toll:

• 19 to 26 Churches went up in flames, reduced to ashes.

• Numerous copies of Holy Bibles and Hymn books were desecrated and reduced to ashes. 

• Over 400 homes bore the brunt of the chaos.

  • 89 Christian households, including those of pastors and priests, were utterly consumed by fire.

  • 15 houses endured partial destruction in the violent assault.

• More than 10,000+ Christians sought sanctuary in sugar cane fields and other havens.

• A staggering 20,000+ Christians felt the impact across different neighborhoods (Cinema Chowk, Eisa Nagri, Chak: 127GB, 126 GB, 240 GB, 238GB, Nasrali, Sheruana, Farooqabad, Maharanwala, Chak, Mohallah Camp)

• A horde of 5,000 to 6,000 Muslim individuals orchestrated the attack on the Christian Community.

• The desecration extended to a Christian graveyard, where crosses were shattered at the entrance and even atop the graves.

• Numerous victims recounted the looting of houses for cash, jewelry, electronics, and more, followed by rampant arson.

• Christian Assistant Commissioner Shaukat Masih confronted bias in Jaranwala, leading to his suspension.

• Two Christian boys, Raja Amir and Rocky Masih, who were accused of blasphemy, are facing charges under sections 295-B and 295-C. 

• The estimated property damage tallies around 70 million PKR ($231,000 USD), encompassing the wreckage of churches and homes. This stands in stark contrast to the average monthly wage of a laborer in Pakistan, at 21,000 PKR ($69 USD).