KARACHI — Christian schools and colleges went on strike in Pakistan Monday to protest against the killing of seven Christians in bloody riots that heightened fears of widening unrest, officials said.
"We are mourning the death of innocent people in Gojra and have closed our schools in Karachi for three days from today," said Saleem Michael, an official of the Catholic Board of Education in Pakistan's financial capital.
The board controls about 62 schools in Karachi where around 50,000 students are enrolled, Michael said.
"We believe in peace, so we are protesting against the Gojra tragedy in a peaceful manner," he said.
An angry mob of Muslims torched 40 houses and a church in the remote village of Gojra, 160 kilometres (99 miles) west of Lahore in Pakistan's heartland province of Punjab, on Saturday.
The violence broke out over the alleged desecration of the Koran. In all, seven Christians died, officials said.
Two children -- a brother and sister aged six and 13 -- their parents and 75-year-old grandfather were burnt to death after the mob locked them inside a room of their house, Father Shabbir told AFP by telephone from Gojra.
"Five members of one family burnt to death, including innocent children and their parents. How we can feel safe and secure in such a country?" he said.
Ayub Sajid, a Christian community leader in the central town of Multan, said 13 missionary schools due to re-open after the holidays in central Punjab, would remain closed for three days to mourn and protest the killings.
Christians have accused the local administration of siding with the Muslims and failing to protect Christians following an earlier attack late last month.
"The blasphemy law is always used against minorities... Now minorities all over Pakistan feel they aren't secure," said Tahir Naveed Chaudhry, a Christian member of the Punjab provincial parliament.
Another Christian lawmaker in North West Frontier Province, which borders Afghanistan in western Pakistan, also echoed the same fears.
"We have cancelled all functions in Peshawar and other districts. We will mourn the killing for three days," Prince Javed told AFP.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has ordered an inquiry into the alleged desecration of the Koran and appealed to residents of the area to remain calm.
Desecrating the Koran is punishable by death under the blasphemy laws of Pakistan, although no executions have ever been carried out.
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