An enraged mob torched dozens of houses located in a Christian-dominated neighbourhood of Lahore on Saturday, DawnNews reported.
The mob attacked the houses in Joseph Colony in Badami Bagh police precincts in the provincial capital following allegations of blasphemy against a Christian man. The man was booked under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
It appeared that the man had been falsely accused of blasphemy but the police was forced to register a case to placate the mob, a local police official said.
Speaking to a private television channel, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said the accused man was in police custody.
Sanaullah said all those involved in the arson would be arrested, adding that his government would try to rehabilitate the affected Christian families.
Blasphemy is an extremely sensitive subject in Pakistan – a nation of 180 million people, 97 per cent of whom are Muslims, and those convicted of defaming Islam or desecrating the Quran can face life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
Human rights activists claim the laws are often used to settle personal vendettas and last year two prominent politicians were assassinated apparently for speaking out against the legislation.
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