By Mubasher Bukhari
LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) -A Muslim crowd attacked a Christian community in eastern Pakistan on Wednesday, vandalising several churches and setting scores of houses on fire after accusing its members of desecrating the Koran, police and community leaders said.
The incident took place in Jaranwala town of the industrial district of Faisalabad, police spokesman Naveed Ahmad said. A violent crowd had attacked the community after two Christians were accused of blasphemy, he said.
The area has been cordoned off as police try to negotiate with the crowd, provincial police chief Usman Anwar told English Dawn.com online publication.
One main church and a number of smaller ones had been vandalised, he said.
Dozens of people were blocking a nearby highway.
The local administration has called in paramilitary troops to handle the violent crowd and bring the situation under control, according to a government order seen by Reuters.
A Christian leader, Akmal Bhatti, said the crowd had torched at least five churches and looted valuables from houses that had been abandoned by their owners after clerics made announcements in mosques inciting the mob.
Several social media posts showed some churches on fire as well as houses and belongings.
Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan and though no one has ever been executed for it, numerous accused people have been lynched by outraged crowds.
Rights groups say accusations of blasphemy are also misused to settle scores. Hundreds of people are languishing in prison after being accused of it as judges often put off trials, fearing retribution if they are seen as too lenient, they say.
(Writing and additional reporting by Asif Shahzad in Islamabad; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
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