Gojra, which is located in the Toba Tek Singh District of Pakistan's Punjab province, has a relatively high number of Christians.
[5] According to Nadeem Anthony, a member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, there is a link between violence against Christians and the US-led war in Afghanistan.
[10] Televised footage showed burning houses and streets strewn with blackened furniture and people firing at each other from their rooftops.
[13] Law minister Rana Sanaullah, who was also responsible for security matters of Punjab at that time, condemned the attack and ordered an inquiry.
[11] President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grave concern over the incidents and directed federal minister for minority affairs Shahbaz Bhatti to remain in Gojra until the situation becomes normal and also asked him to take steps for the security of people's life and property.
[15] This group was originally an anti-Shiite organization and was funded in the past by Pakistan's intelligence services to wage war in Kashmir.
[16] The arrested men include Qari Abdul Khaliq Kashmiri, a leader of the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan.
[17] Following the riots relatives of the slain protested by blocking the Multan-Faisalabad railway line for six hours, which passes through Gojra, by placing coffins of those killed on the tracks.
[18] Altaf Hussain of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement strongly condemned the attacks and called upon the government to quickly arrest the culprits.