St paul’s mardan: Christians protest at church burning

LAHORE: Dozens of Christians protested outside the Lahore Press Club on Sunday against the burning of the historic St Paul’s Church in Mardan during Friday’s riots in reaction to an anti-Islam film.The peaceful protest was organised by World Vision in Progress, an NGO that says it aims to help minorities get their rights in Pakistan. The protesters said that Islam did not allow attacks on the worship places of other religions. They said that Christians in Pakistan had condemned the anti-Islam film. “Pakistani Christians had already condemned the American director of the movie by raising their voices at various forums. We still condemn him. But we feel that the worship places of all religions should be protected,” said Napoleon Qayyum of the WVIP. He said that the government should take action against those who attacked the church. “Pakistani Christians respect other faiths,” said Qayyum. “We have an equal right to live in Pakistan and follow our religious customs. We want Jinnah’s Pakistan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2012.