PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE: Residents of Okara district allegedly vandalised an under-construction church and desecrated a cross, The Express Tribune has learnt on Tuesday.
The Christian residents in the district started construction of the church on a two-kanal piece of land owned by one of their community members.
Only a day after they had installed a cross on the partially constructed building, a group of local Muslims -- allegedly over political differences – damaged the building and the land by ploughing the ground with the help of a tractor.
Javed Iqbal Masih -- one of the Christian residents -- told The Express Tribune that despite repeated requests, the group of 10 people damaged the building first with their hands and later with a tractor in the presence of local Christians.
Investigation officer Muhammad Javed said that police have registered an FIR under section 295-A and 506-B of Pakistan Penal Code against ten people for damaging the church and defaming the cross. He said police were raiding different areas to arrest the accused.
While speaking to The Express Tribune, Human Liberation Commission Pakistan chairperson Aslam Parvaiz Sahotra said the Christian community was not protected in Pakistan and that they face discrimination at every level.
COMMENTS (9)
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cant find the words to condemn this incident but i demand to police and law enforcement institution to provide justice over this coward attack on church.
@genesis woah!..so much hate against the sunnis .... looks like sunnis aint dying in this country....
What ?..no blasphemy law applied now ????
@Saleem: I don't think any one even believes this anymore. You might as well save your breath and spittle.
I feel quite concerned about myself.I get upset and become uncomfortable about my country and the psyche of her people whenever I hear such news.I do not know what makes me worried on such happenings.May be,I am not a good Muslim
Islam teaches tolerance. Any one who does this is doing against teachings of Islam.
This is not news.It is routine in Pakistan to persecute other faiths excluding Sunnis.Being a non sunni invites trouble.Pakistan should help minorities move to other countries and in their place accept Rohingyas from Burma!
Waste of resources and unnecessary construction. Don't know why hindus want their temples back and christians want their churches in Pakistan when there is going to no hindu or christian left out in Pakistan very soon.
All other religions in majority in different countries must treat muslims just like how muslims treat them where they are in majority.