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World Watch Monitor
World News

Easter banner torn down from church sparks violence

by Tola Mbakwe

The incident took place on Sunday in eastern Pakistan and according to World Watch Monitor three Muslim suspects have been arrested, while seven people were sent to hospital.

Haleem Masih, the church's pastor, filed a police report which stated: "Today at about 1pm I was conducting a worship service when [a group of men, including a government official], equipped with firearms, barged into the church.

"As soon as they entered, [two of them] forcibly took down gospel verses written on banners, while shouting abusive words, tore them into pieces and then denigrated them by throwing them down."

Church member Iftikhar Bhatti said a Muslim local government official, Muhammad Sharif, and his two sons trampled on the banner and, as the church service ended, a fight broke out between worshippers and the men.

The pastor said in a statement that church members were injured by being hit with sticks and pistol butts.

However, police suspect the conflict arose between two Christian groups and then the Muslim family got involved afterwards.

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