Christians protest Church occupation and demolition

Written by: Jawad Mazhar (ROD)

Lahore, Pakistan, Dec 25^th (ROD): Scores of Christians massed before Governor House Punjab and protested against the unlawful occupation and demolition of ‘Church of Christ’ near Gaddafi Cricket Stadium, Feroze Pur Road, Lahore by very powerful and influential Muslim land mafia, on Dec 24^th.

The protest was lead by Secretary General of Lahore Church Council Mushtaq Sajeel Bhatti, Secretary General All Pakistan Minorities Rights Action Committee (APMRAC) Younas Sheraz, Mr Patras Ghani (Pakistan Christian National Party).

Talking to ROD Mr Patras Ghani told that this land mafia consists men of power and influence like Monis Elahi son of Pervez Elahi , who presently Chief Minster of Punjab and running the forthcoming general elections and hopeful to form the next government in Pakistan and his booming accomplices Sheikh Hafeez, Arshad Manzoor (Advocate) and Hajji Iqbal.

Ghani said that on Dec 12^th, a case has been launched against the church land grabbers at Garden Town Police Station under article 380 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), for unlawfully and forcibly occupying the Church Premises. Ghani went on saying that between the night of Dec 15^th and Dec 16^th Muslim Land Mafia struck and demolished the church completely and started to construct their, own building. Patras Ghani lamented that the land grabbers have wiped out the church completely from the face of the earth.

Patras Ghani added that another application has been submitted at Garden Town Police Station stating the present condition of the Church and it’s demolition by the same land Mafia. Ghani said land grabbers should be brought to the books for this heinous act under article 295-A PPC for desecrating the church, cross and Holy Bible and Article 7 of Anti Terrorism Act.

During the protest, Christian protesters chanted slogans against the Muslim land Mafia and Government for not taking the immediate notice of this sacrilege act of occupation and demolition of the church. While the protest of on full swing Patras Ghani was called in to the Governor House and assured of Justice.

While Superintendent of Police (SP) Model Town Muhammad Amir has taken the action under article 145 of Law & Order, and taken the church premises under police custody until the show down is simmered down between the Christians and Muslim Land Grabber Mafia and court announces the decision.