Christian cemetery still a distant dream

Two years after the allocation of land, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has yet to complete the boundary wall and other development work at the Christian cemetery in Sector H-8, prompting strong protests from the Christian community.

A large gathering of political, social, and business leaders from the community was held recently, where Chaudhry Ashraf Farzand, Chairman of PMF and PCBF, expressed dismay over the prolonged neglect of a basic collective need. He said that despite persistent appeals, CDA officials and elected representatives have shown no interest in resolving the issue. Ashraf criticised the disparity, noting that while mega projects in Islamabad are completed in a matter of days, basic infrastructure at the Christian cemetery remains ignored.

The plot for the cemetery was allotted in 2023, however, no development work has begun as yet.

The absence of a boundary wall has led to stray animals desecrating graves, which are visible from the roadside.

Community leaders have demanded an inquiry by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and called for immediate action against those responsible. They insist on the urgent provision of essential facilities so that community members can bury their loved ones with dignity. Other participants in the meeting included Imran Shehzad Sahotra, Adeel Ghouri, Maqbool Khokhar, Irfan Salamat, Shahbaz Nar, Emmanuel Siraj and Khalid Bhatti.