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Hundreds of extra Pakistani police and troops have been deployed in Punjab province after a crowd of Muslims burnt down several churches and ransacked dozens of Christian homes. The violence was sparked by accusations that two Christian men desecrated the Quran in the town of Jaranwala.

Pakistan鈥檚 caretaker prime minister, Anwar ul Haq, denounced the unrest and called for stern action against the perpetrators. Dozens of people have reportedly been arrested. The country鈥檚 Human Rights Commission said the state was failing to protect its religious minorities, and was allowing far right groups to fester.

The Most Reverend Dr Azad Marshall is Bishop of Raiwind Diocese in the Church of Pakistan - he is also President of the National Council of Churches. He gave Newsday he's views on the destruction.

"I have yet to meet a Muslim scholar who says this is right, and yet I don't know where this hate come from. We are Pakistanis. We were born here... It is unbelievable."

(Pic: Christian minority in Pakistan protests in the wake of violent mobs; Credit: EPA)

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