Zardari condemns burning of a church in Mardan

Radio Pakistan President Zardari while condemning burning of a church in Mardan says it is contrary to the teachings of Islam. President Asif Ali Zardari has condemned and deplored the attack and burning of a church in Mardan on Friday by a mob protesting against the anti-Islam film. In a message‚ the President said that the highly provocative anti Islam film had been roundly condemned throughout the world and particularly in Pakistan by Muslims and non Muslims alike. But he said ransacking public and private property particularly the places of worship of other religions was itself unislamic and highly condemnable. The President said that ransacking and vandalizing revered places of worship and inflicting self damage in retaliation amounted to playing into the hands of perpetrators of the crime who produced the anti- Islam film. Describing torching of the church as 'unfortunate and reprehensible ' President Zardari said that it was contrary to the teachings of Islam which ordained respecting places of worship of all religions. The President called upon Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to take all appropriate measures for protecting the places of worship of Christians and other minorities and address their grievances. ======= Pakistan Peoples Party's Human Rights Cell has also strongly condemned the burning of the Church. Central Coordinator PPP Human Rights Cell Dr Nafisa Shah in a statement said it is a conspiracy to give a bad name to Muslims. She also condemned the violence on Friday that led to the taking of innocent lives‚ besides burning of private and public property that led to the loss of millions. The PPP Human Rights cell called upon the authorities to take severe action against all the miscreants that have used the occasion to perpetuate violence and to take special measures to protect religiuos minorities.