Pakistan Christians Forgive Church Attackers

LAHORE, PAKISTAN (Worthy News)– A tense calm returned Thursday, June 2, to a Pakistani village in Pakistan’s turbulent Punjab province after local Christians announced they had forgiven armed Muslims who attacked their church, mediators said.

Christians in the mainly Muslim village of Lakho Ki, outside Lahore city, were badly shaken when their Presbyterian church was attacked last Sunday, May 29, explained rights group Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan (SLMP), which mediated in the conflict.

Armed Muslims, who allegedly disrupted the worship service, were seen cursing the congregation, smashing a glass altar and damaging Bibles and a cross.

Three or four elderly Christians were slapped and beaten with bamboo sticks, although none required medical treatment, Christians said.

The SLMP said however that local Christians decided not to start legal action against suspects because Muslim community and religious leaders publicly apologized for the incident in front of the church.