Pakistani court remands 47 Christians in custody after Muslim lynching following suicide attacks

Forty-seven Pakistani Christians have been remanded in jail for their alleged involvement in the lynching of two Muslims after two deadly suicide bomb attacks on two churches which killed 17 people.

Lahore's Anti-Terrorism Court-III Judge Haroon Latif remanded them in custody after they were produced before him by the police.

An application was made to extend the detention of 22 people already in custody and to remand 25 other people who had been arrested and identified during the investigation parade held at Kot Lakhpat Jail.

The judge allowed all 47 to be held by police for a further 10 days, until May 8.

In the most recent example of atrocities committed against Christians, on March 15 two suicide bombers brazenly entered two separate churches in Youhanabad and blew themselves up.

At least 17 worshippers were killed and more than 80 were injured.

After the attack angered Christians got hold of two suspects and severely beat them before setting them on fire.

Although the police have presented a number of people in court, many Christians are still unaccounted for, with their loved one fearing they have been tortured by police.

The police is failing to accept knowledge of these missing people, saying they do not know what has happened to them.

It will remain to be seen how the authorities deal with the Christians accused of the lynching and whether those behind the bombings that sparked the reaction will be brought to justice.