PTI Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry. PHOTO: ONLINE
LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday joined a protest demonstration over the demolition of the boundary wall of St Francis School and church in Anarkali.
“This [St Francis School] is one of the oldest religious and cultural places in Anarkali… The government’s move disregards the rights of minorities,” PTI Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry said.
Chaudhry said the PTI would protect the religious places of minority communities.
MPA Shanila Rout said she had raised the issue in the provincial assembly. She alleged that the government planned to give away the land to a mafia for construction of a commercial plaza.
She said the PTI would stage more protests if the boundary wall was not restored.
PTI Information Secretary Andleeb Abbas and Arch Bishop Sebastian Shaw were also present on the occasion.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2013.
COMMENTS (8)
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This would be way more believable if PTI had also condemned TTP for attacking a church in Peshawar. As it is, just seems political manoeuvring to criticise the government.
Good to see PTI speaking out on the rights of minorities.
@SM: Of course a big "YES" provided what for the place is required. For public ease, welfare and beautification of city if appropriate alternate place is offered and affected party agrees to it no harm even if an old school and worship place is demolished. Currently lot of expansion constructing work is in progress in Mecca around Khana Kaaba to facilitate ease for Hajjis. In process few historical buildings and mosques were demolished. However if building in question is being demolished just to benefit any land mafia then it should be resisted at all cost.
@Zubair Khan: and your sentiments would have been the same had this been the wall of a mosque?
Well done PTI!!
Looks PTI trying to make story out of it. For the beautification or for the ease of public if alternate place is provided to affected parties what is the harm. However consent of affected party is must for such deal.
Aaah nice to see PTI take a stand on something and condemen anything else other than drones! Wish they could come out and do the same when it comes to innocnt people of all faiths and believes getting killed by terrorists.
Ejaz Chaudhry, being the son-inlaw of former Ameer Jamat-Islami (Mian Tufail), is shedding crocodile tears!