ISLAMABAD — An angry mob of Muslims on Saturday killed six Christians and wounded dozens after burning 40 houses and a church over the alleged desecration of the Koran in a remote Pakistani town, officials said.
The incident took place in Gojra village near Toba Tek Singh town, some 160 kilometres (99 miles) west of Lahore, the capital of central Punjab province.
"Six Christians including a child were killed and more than a dozen were injured in this sad incident," Shahbaz Bhatti, federal minister of minorities told AFP by telephone, saying they were attacked by "a group of people.
"Some people blamed the Christians for the desecration of the holy Koran," he said adding that the accusations were "baseless".
He did not elaborate on the alleged desecration.
Police said unrest between a group of Muslim and Christian villagers first flared late last month over a dispute over the Muslim holy book, which was later resolved.
Tensions erupted Saturday however, when the Christian group were attacked again and their houses set on fire.
"Today, according to our information... this is the same issue of alleged desecration of the Koran," Inkisar Khan, city police chief told reporters.
"All the dead are Christians. I was told that they were burned alive," Bhatti said.
Television footage from the area showed police using tear gas in an effort to disperse an angry mob.
Desecrating the Koran is punishable by death under the blasphemy laws of overwhelmingly Muslim Pakistan, although no executions have ever been carried out for the crime.
Christians, who make up less than three percent of Pakistan's population of 150 million, say the blasphemy laws are used as an excuse to victimize them
(AFP)
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