Two Christian families were recovered from an enraged mob that attacked their homes in Pakistan's Sargodha region on Saturday, media reports said.

Sargodha District Police Officer (DPO) Asad Ejaz Malhi told Dawn News“When police arrived, the mob had gathered outside the houses. Officers cordoned off the area and safely evacuated all residents,” Malhi told the newspaper, adding that additional police units were stationed throughout the city to ensure the safety of the Christian community.

“The police peacefully dispersed the crowd,” he added.
that the incident stemmed from alleged desecration, but emphasised that a large police contingent was deployed and no fatalities were reported.

A video, meanwhile, has gone viral where a mob could be seen surrounding a bloodied man and others, including teenagers, damaged furniture.

DPO Malhi dismissed this as a “fake video” and insisted no one was injured in the incident.

“The police are maintaining law and order,” he said.

A relative of the injured person, however, contradicted the statement and told Dawn News his uncle was in critical condition at a local hospital.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condemned the incident and posted on X: "HRCP is seriously concerned by the unfolding situation in #Sargodha, where the Christian community in Gillwala village is reportedly at grave risk to their lives at the hands of charged mobs. There are unconfirmed reports of a man having been allegedly lynched. "

"The Punjab police @OfficialDPRPP and district administration must immediately restore calm and bring the perpetrators to book while ensuring that the Christian community comes to no further harm," the rights body said.