Pakistan alleges foreign interference in attacks on churches, homes of Christians

KARACHI, Pakistan

Pakistani police on Monday accused the "enemy" country's intelligence agency of being involved in recent violence against Christians and burning of churches in the northeastern Punjab province.

Addressing a news conference in the provincial capital Lahore, Punjab police chief Usman Anwar said the police arrested three key "conspirators" allegedly involved in triggering violence against Christians.

Violent mobs attacked churches and homes of Christian residents in Jaranwala town after a Christian man was accused of desecrating Islam’s holy book, the Quran, earlier this month.

The attacks occurred after some Muslims living in the area claimed they had seen a local Christian and his friend tearing out pages from a copy of the Quran, throwing them on the ground, and writing insulting remarks on other pages.

A group demolished the man’s house and damaged churches. The homes of other Christians living in the area were also targeted.

Multiple churches were also set on fire, which triggered strong condemnation from Pakistan's political and religious parties.

The police have arrested over 160 suspects involved in the burning of churches and attacking Christians.

"We have busted the anti-country network. Inshallah (God willing), such incidents will not occur in the future," Anwar said, without providing details about the network and the alleged involvement of the enemy country's intelligence agency.

Pakistan's intelligence agencies are further investigating the involvement of a foreign hand in the incident, he added.