On March 9, 2013, a horrifying incident took place in Joseph Colony, Badami Bagh, District Lahore, that left 235 Christian families devastated. The trouble began when a young Christian boy living in the colony was accused of committing blasphemy while in the company of his Muslim friends. In Pakistan, the Blasphemy Law strictly prohibits any form of disrespectful, objectionable, or derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad, and such accusations often incite severe reactions.
The incident occurred on a Thursday evening, but it was the following day, Friday—a significant day of prayer for Muslims—when the situation escalated dramatically. The local mosque’s cleric used the Friday prayers as an opportunity to inflame tensions, urging the congregation to take action against the Christian residents of Joseph Colony. Fueled by these provocations, a mob formed and descended on the colony. They began by looting the residents’ property before setting fire to their homes. In the chaos, an estimated 180 to 200 houses, small shops, and businesses were burned down, leaving the community in ruins. Tragically, two churches and numerous Bibles were also destroyed in the blaze, deepening the trauma for the Christian families.
I-LAP’s Intervention
In response to this tragic event, I-LAP, under the leadership of Chairman Sajid Sandhu, acted swiftly. The Chairman visited the affected area on the very day of the incident to assess the damage and provide comfort to the traumatized families. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, he took immediate steps to bring attention to the plight of the victims.
In collaboration with the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC), Sajid Sandhu organized two press conferences in Lahore and Islamabad. These press conferences served as platforms to strongly condemn the attack, demanding that the findings of the judicial probe into the incident be made public. The Chairman emphasized that those responsible for the violence should be held accountable, particularly for setting ablaze the two churches and desecrating the Bibles, which also constitutes blasphemy under the law.
In addition to these efforts, I-LAP organized a protest in Islamabad to further highlight the injustice and call for action against the perpetrators.
Recognizing the immediate needs of the affected families, I-LAP provided critical assistance to 235 households by distributing Bibles, wet feed, non-food items (NFIs), food packages, Easter gifts to children, helping the community to begin the long process of recovery and healing.
Through these efforts, I-LAP stood in solidarity with the victims of Joseph Colony, advocating for justice and providing tangible support to those who had lost so much.
Survey of the Affected Families
















Press Conference Islamabad






















Press Conference Lahore










Protest Islamabad





















Protest Lahore











Wet feed Distribution



Distribution Badami Bagh Lahore






























































PYC Easter Gifts Distribution Lahore

























































Bible Distribution







