Moving Beyond Rehabilitation - Toward Justice
One Year On - Jaranwala Still Awaits Justice
The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF) hosted a program in Lahore to mark the first anniversary of the devastating attacks that took place in Jaranwala on August 16, 2023.
Over twenty five Churches and hundreds of homes were ransacked, looted and set ablaze leaving hundreds of families traumatized, shattered, losing everything they possessed, and most importantly, one year later justice remains elusive.
The program brought together government officials, civil society organizations, and community members to address the rise of extremism and the ongoing struggles of religious minorities in Pakistan.
The panel of experts discussed various issues, including the implementation of Article 10 which guarantees a fair trial for all citizens; article 25 which upholds the equality of citizenship and article 36 which guarantees the protection of the rights of the religious minorities in the Constitution of Pakistan.
Members of the civil society also expressed their concerns over the growing situation of extremism and the state’s responsibility towards the vulnerable segments of society.
The participants called for urgent action, and deliberated on potential solutions to prevent such tragedies in the future
The event also featured testimonies from the victims of Jaranwala; who continue to suffer from social, economic, and religious discrimination in the aftermath of the attacks.
A very important factor that arises in the aftermath of mob violence is the psychological damage, which is never addressed. A mental health expert shared insight into the effects of such incidents on vulnerable groups, especially women and children, and discussed ways to address these challenges to restore faith in humanity and help victims rebuild their lives.
The attendees were provided with updates on the legal progress of the Jaranwala cases. Justice for the affectees of Jaranwala was demanded.
The program was addressed by the Minister for Human Rights and Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora, Commissioner/Member of the NCHR Mr Nadeem Ashraf.
Ms. Hina Jilani, Mr. Irfan Mufti, Mr. Peter Jacob, Mr. Tahir Bashir, Ms. Rabia Mehmood, and Ms. Katherine Sapna discussed the rising issues of extremism, the misuse of laws against religious minorities, and focused on possible solutions.
Ms Michelle Chaudhry, President of The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF) addressing the program stated “one year on and Jaranwala is still hurting; on that ill-fated day in Jaranwala they did not only burn homes and churches, they burnt the principals of humanity, they burnt hope, trust and dreams; they burnt Jinnah’s Pakistan and none of the culprits were brought to justice. It is evident that the State of Pakistan has failed in protecting the Christian families of Jaranwala. It is about time that the authorities play their role in protecting the lives and properties of all its citizens, regardless of their faith; all those responsible for these insane acts of violence must be held accountable. We cannot allow this to go on; impunity around violence against religious minorities in Pakistan has to end.”
“I take this opportunity to thank all our friends from Pakistan and around the world whose generosity enabled us to provide every possible assistance to the traumatized families of Jaranwala.” Ms Chaudhry added.
Despite all adversities and challenges The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF) stands firm and committed to work against injustice, religious intolerance and violence against the oppressed in society; promoting a just, tolerant and equitable Pakistan.
