LAHORE (Web Desk/APP) – Two people were killed and six others wounded on Monday when a car ran over protesters in a second day of protests against Sunday’s twin bombings at the churches in Lahore’s Youhanabad area that killed 14 people. The death toll from the deadly blasts has reached 17.
TV footage showed chaotic scenes at Ferozpur Road where a black car ran over protesters killing two people, identified as Amir and Danish, and injuring six others.
Sunday’s attacks in Youhanabad neighbourhood of the eastern city sparked mob violence in which two other suspected militants were killed, with Christians smashing up cars and a bus station in a rare show of anger from the persecuted minority group.
More than 1,000 policemen were deployed in and around Youhanabad on Monday, where many protesters had armed themselves with clubs.
“We are on the roads to get justice, we want protection,” 50-year-old Maqbool Bhatti told a news agency.
Bhatti, a government employee, said the authorities have failed to take adequate security measures.
“There was no proper security on Sunday, the government should protect all the churches,” he said.
Asher Kanwal, 30, added: “Christians are protesting because they are worried of their future.”
The Christians make up around two percent of Pakistan’s mostly Muslim population of 180 million.
The Christian volunteers established their own security check-points on Sunday, tying ropes across the roads leading into Youhanabad and patting down worshipers who had come to offer prayers for the dead ahead of funerals planned for Tuesday.
Some carried placards with slogans such as “Why do you kill us?”, “Stop killing Christians,” and “Let us live”.
Special prayers were meanwhile planned at churches throughout the country, as well as candle-light vigils by Christian groups and members of civil society.
