Land Mafia attempts to grab Church Property, Punjab Government Responded!

Land Mafia attempts to grab Church Property, Police ensured protection of Christian community, Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar stands tall, Minister Human Rights/Minorities Affairs Ejaz Alam Augustine refuses to bow down against influential political pressure & proceeds with registration of FIR against culprits.

Punjab Pakistan, Ittehad Chemicals, Hakeempura, Tehsil Ferozwala, District Sheikhupura. On 9^th May 2020, the local Church was closed due to necessary measures of maintaining social distancing during pandemic Covid-19. Unfortunately the Local Land Mafia headed by Aoun Abbas had other ideas in mind to forcibly grab the Church property. Along with a group of culprits they attacked the Church boundary wall, destroyed the main gate and disrespected the Holy Cross.

During this act of destroying the Church property women and children of Christian community starting shouting with loud cries and people started to gather. Aoun Abbas and gang started threatening Christian community to stay away or they’ll kill anyone who tries to interfere in their act of vandalizing the Church construction. Church Pastor immediately contacted Police helpline 15 and within few moments the local police station sent two vehicles of their emergency respond unit.

Upon arrival of Police vehicles Aoun Abbas along with his gang of culprits disappeared from the scene. Local influential politicians especially the Member National Assembly who are on vacations due to covid-19 measures started interfering in police matters and tried their level best to create hurdles in law & justice implementation by not letting the Police register an FIR (Official First Information Report).

Local Pastor of the Church effectively used social media platforms and recorded a video of the incident scene and this video started circulating among Christian activist groups. Someone noticed this incident & immediately sent this video to Ejaz Alam Augustine (Minister Human Rights/Minorities Affairs Punjab).

Ejaz Alam Augustine refused to bow down against the political pressure from National Assembly groups & at once directed his District representative Sharoon Rokas to report at crime scene and fulfills all the necessary measures. With the direct interference of Minister Human Rights & Minorities Affairs Punjab an official FIR was registered against Aoun Abbas and group of culprits and Police are now effectively handling this matter.

By this above mentioned situation it is observed that Influential Political representatives do interfere in the role and responsibilities of Provincial and District level matters & previously as PM. Imran Khan stated that he will ensure implementation of Justice at grassroots level and He must keep a strict check and balance on the National assembly individuals’ irrelevant interference.

Overall this response from Punjab Government, Punjab Police & especially Ejaz Alam Augustine has encouraged Christians in Punjab Province a lot and this can strengthen this belief even more if the National Level Politicians (Even if they belong to Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaaf) stop their interference in Provincial, District and especially in the role & responsibilities of Human Rights & Minorities Affairs concerning Christians in province of Punjab.  

Please Watch the Complete Video of the Church vandalized scene, Pastor Statement & Ejaz Alam Response.  (English Subtitles). 

Incident Video