Christian and Muslim clerics signed a peace accord to restore calm in the Pakistani city of Lahore, a day after hundreds of minority families fled their homes fearing attacks from hard-line groups over alleged blasphemy.
More than 1,000 Christian families left the Shahdara neigh- bourhood after locals protested against Patras Masih, 18, who allegedly shared a photo of a Hindu wearing shoes in Roza-e- Rasool, the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering Mecca and Medina, Islam’s holy cities.
Masih was arrested on Feb. 19. His family is in hiding. “He was a member of a Facebook page titled “paglo ki basti” (the slum of lunatics). The existence of this photo challenges the religious sentiments of Muslims. This may result in an unpleasant incident,” said complainant Hafiz Muhammad Awais.
A mob carrying wooden sticks and placards gathered on a main road, burned tires and chanted religious slogans on Feb. 21 while demanding the public execution of the Christian sanitary worker. They also gathered outside the teenager’s house and threatened to burn all Christian houses in the area.
