Washington - Expressing deep concern regarding the orchestrated assaults on churches in Pakistan, the United States strongly asserted that resorting to violence or threats as a means of expression is fundamentally unacceptable. The US called upon Pakistani authorities to initiate an investigation into these allegations while supporting the principle of peaceful freedom of expression.

This US statement arises amidst reports of multiple churches being vandalized in the Jaranwala district of Faisalabad, Pakistan, due to accusations of blasphemy.

During a press briefing, Vedant Patel, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department, remarked, "We are deeply concerned that churches and residences were targeted in Pakistan. We uphold the right to peaceful freedom of expression and freedom of religion for all individuals. As we have previously emphasized, we remain vigilant against incidents involving religiously motivated violence."

He further added, "Violence or the threat of violence can never be a justified mode of expression. We urge Pakistani authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into these allegations and advocate for calm among all parties involved."

Amidst these events, Christian leaders have accused the police of passivity during the attacks. The President Bishop of the Church of Pakistan, Azad Marshall, decried the mistreatment and harassment faced by Christians.

Bishop Marshall stressed his plea for justice and swift action against those who perpetrated the assault. He demanded the assurance of citizen safety and urged that their lives hold value in their own homeland, which has recently celebrated its independence and liberty.

Notably, minority communities in Pakistan have endured persistent persecution and targeted attacks over the years. Last month, Naveed Walter, President of Human Rights Focus Pakistan, highlighted that the proportion of minorities in Pakistan has plummeted from 23% at the time of its independence in 1947 to a mere 3%.

In June of this year, a local court in Bahawalpur stirred controversy across Pakistan by sentencing a 22-year-old Christian youth, Noman Masih, to death on blasphemy charges, as reported by BNN Network. The verdict prompted vehement responses from numerous human rights advocates and organizations.