LHC seeks replies on plea over Christian graveyard burial dispute

Petition says that man obtained stay order from court on June 4 against deputy commissioner's allotment order

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday issued notices to the respondents and sought their replies on a miscellaneous application seeking permission for the burial of members of the Christian community in a designated graveyard after burials were allegedly stopped under the cover of a court stay order.

The application filed by Pannu Masih argues that an 8-kanal and 18-marla piece of land in Chak No. 212-GB, Samundri, Faisalabad, had been temporarily allotted by the deputy commissioner, Faisalabad, for use as a Christian graveyard through an order issued on May 11.

The applicant submitted that the land was formally mutated in favour of the Christian graveyard on January 6.

The petition further stated that a man, Khalid Munir, obtained a stay order from the LHC on June 4 against the deputy commissioner's allotment order, without disclosing that the land had already been mutated for the graveyard.

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It was alleged that Khalid Munir was now using the stay order to prevent the burial of deceased members of the Christian community, causing irreparable loss and severe hardship.

The applicant requested the court to allow burials on the shamlat land designated for the Christian graveyard.

After the preliminary hearing, Justice Abid Hussain Chattha issued notices to the respondents and called for their replies.