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Karachi:
Several Christian families in this Pakistani city have fled their
homes while many have sent their women to safer places after a
Christian boy eloped with a Muslim girl, causing tension in their
neighbourhood, a media report said.
The situation in Karachi's Saeedabad area has become tense after
an 18-year-old Muslim girl eloped with a 20-year-old Christian boy
last week, The News International reported.
The couple fled to Faisalabad, where the boy converted to Islam
and married the girl.
Following the incident, the girl's family and activists of a
political party allegedly threatened the Christian community of
dire consequences if the girl did not return home.
The girl's family also stoned the locality's church, forced a
local school to shut down and reportedly forced the Christian
people to migrate from the area.
A Christian resident said on condition of anonymity that although
a week has passed since the incident took place, a tense
atmosphere prevails in the area.
"I have sent my three children to my relatives' place since the
activists have threatened us that they would start kidnapping our
girls. Becoming terrified, many people locked their homes and ran
away, while others have caged themselves up in their houses.
Now, the entire Christian community is paying the price for the
boy's crime, he said.
William Sattar, a social activist, alleged that police were
picking up boys from the area and beating them up.
"We are very worried as armed men are roaming in the area. They
have already attacked our church and we are scared that they might
start attacking our houses," he said.
Saeedabad police station station house officer Nasir Sami said
police are doing all they could to control the law and order
situation.
"The boy has sent his 'free-will' conversion and marriage
certificate to police officials and calm and peace is returning to
the area," he said.
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