|TOP|As Christian communities in Pakistan face increasing persecution, Protestant and Catholic leaders have united in new plans to open up crisis centres across the country to prevent the spread of attacks triggered by the cartoon controversy.

The bold new measures follow two weeks of violent attacks, as Christian communities across the country have fallen victim to angry mobs.

The crisis centres will monitor relations between Muslims and minority groups and are designed to enable fast action at the ground level to prevent localised disputes from degenerating into wider attacks of violence, said Aid to the Church in Need UK.

Bishop Anthony Lobo of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, will lead the working party responsible for establishing and developing the nationwide network of crisis centres.

He is confident that the scheme will give greater support to the country’s over-burdened security system, said ACN.

Bishop Lobo is certain the crisis centres will help prevent violent attacks on Christians in the country accused of breaking the highly controversial Blasphemy Law, which metes out harsh punishment for any insults to the Prophet and the Koran.

|AD|The new centres are expected to be established in the coming month and follow a spate of attacks, including violent attacks on two churches in the town of Sukkur, in Sindh Province, south-east Pakistan, last week.

One Catholic church and a Protestant church were both set on fire last week, with their schools also targeted by the violence.

Police have used tear gas to break up the violent gangs that have turned their attacks on Christian churches and church property across Pakistan.

Shabhaz Bhatti, chairman of the All Pakistan Minorities’ Alliance, an organisation which lobbies government to stamp out religious intolerance, will play a key role in the crisis centre initiative.

He said: “For too long, we have simply reacted to attacks against minorities after they have happened. We have got to try to stop them happening in the first place.

“What this scheme does is to give people a sense of confidence that potential threats of violence can be stopped before things get out of control.”

According to Mr Bhatti, the new coordinators of the Crisis Centres would be given full training in emergency response as well as how to set up a full reporting system to notify authorities of imams who preach the use of violence, as well as media coverage of imminent threats to the safety of Christians.

Mr Bhatti added he “remains hopeful” that the controversial Blasphemy Law will one day be repealed.

Pakistan’s prime minister was praised by the country’s Catholic leader, Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha, for publicly condemning those who partake in violence against Christians in the country and for meeting with top clergy in a display of solidarity.