Pakistan: 2,000 protest government’s demolition of Church buildings

January 18, 2012

Two thousand Pakistani Christians, including Auxiliary Bishop Sebastian Shah of Lahore, priests, and Protestant leaders, protested the Punjabi government’s decision to confiscate Church land and demolish the charitable and educational institutions located on it.

The Christian leaders rejected a Punjabi government official’s explanation that the demolition was needed to combat criminal activity; Church officials also rejected a government offer of adjacent land.

“We shall continue protesting until the government returns all the land it took and pays for the losses,” said Father Morris Jalal. “We do not fear anyone and will fight for our rights.”

 

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Further information:

• Bishops reject government land offer (UCA News)
• Pakistan: government demolishes Catholic buildings (CWN, 1/13)