HRFP : demands justice and preventative steps in response to the assault on the Kot Radha Kishan Church

HRFP: The January 5, 2026, assault on a church in Ghanaykay hamlet, Kot Radha Kishan (Kasur), is highly condemned by Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP). The local Christian community was deeply distressed and terrified when the accused broke into the church, looted the building, and desecrated the Bible by shredding its pages.

Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) President Naveed Walter called for prompt and open punishment for the offenders. Just identifying suspects and filing a First Information Report (FIR) is not enough, he said. “Preventing such incidents in the future is equally important,” he said, urging practical steps to protect houses of worship and religious minorities. Even if a local person has been taken into custody in relation to vandalism, he said, accountability won’t be complete until the causes of the crime and the participation of any accomplices are completely revealed.

The president of HRF,P, Naveed Walter, emphasized the critical necessity for national awareness and education campaigns to foster respect, tolerance, and cohabitation among all people, regardless of their faith or beliefs. He called on the government to take the initiative to combat hate crimes, prejudice, and religious intolerance.

Walter reaffirmed HRFP’s long-standing call for the repeal of blasphemy laws, despite the fact that a criminal complaint has been filed under Sections 295 and 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code, statutes dealing to offenses against religion and activities meant to insult religious emotions. He said that these laws are often abused and have caused innocent people to suffer, be harassed, and be wrongfully imprisoned.

In reference to the recent release of Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza, who had been detained on charges of blasphemy, Walter pointed out that Mirza’s later disclosures about Christian and Muslim blasphemy victims further highlight the abuse of these laws and the innocence of numerous accused people he personally met while incarcerated.

Walter also brought up the horrific 2014 burning death of a Christian couple in a brick kiln in Kot Radha Kishan, Kasur, which still serves as a reminder of the serious threats religious minority in Pakistan face.

He also revealed that in 2025 alone, HRFP’s REAT Helpline got over 1,200 calls, the bulk of which were about violence, job discrimination, biassed treatment, kidnappings of females, assaults on Christians and churches, and bogus allegations of blasphemy.

Emphasis on Human Rights Pakistan calls on the government and law enforcement to establish complete accountability, bolster preventative measures, and protect everyone’s fundamental rights, including those of religious minorities.