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Church Reportedly Demolished by Muslim Land Mafia
A church in Lahores Sardar Town has been destroyed by reported Muslim land mafia.
According to a report from Sharing Life Ministry Pakistans (SLMP), Sohail Johnson, the independent Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) King of Kings Church was demolished on Nov. 15. The vandals bulldozed the church building, trashed Bibles, broke the churchs sound system, hit Christian women and injured a little boy.
SLMP claims the leader of the vandals was a Muslim man named Nanha Bhatti, who along with his friends, attacked the church.
SLMP said when the attack occurred the female members of the church were preparing for a convention at the church on Nov. 16-17. Their husbands were at work. Although they were informed about the incident, SLMP said by the time they reached the church, Bhatti and his group had already left the scene. When the women attempted to resist the attackers, they were reportedly slapped and had bricks thrown at them.
SLMP said as a result a five-year-old boy was hit in the forehead with a brick and his forehead needed five stitches. The churchs sound system was also destroyed.
Reportedly, SLMP said, a local government clerk also accompanied Bhatti.
A church elder told SLMP that the pastor was out of town at the time of the attack, and it was evening before he returned.
An individual told SLMP that Bhatti is a member of the land mafia, and has some official support. He added, They all have joined hands with each other to take Christians land into their possession.
Another person told SLMP that local Sunnis objected to the churchs prayer meetings being held at the same time as the Muslim call for prayer. He said the cleric was assured by Christians they would change their prayer meetings so the Muslims call for prayer would not be disturbed.
SLMP said another informant told the group, I was at home when Nanha Bhatti brought the bulldozer. My house is next to the church. I tried to stop the bulldozer, but Nanha asked the driver of bulldozer not to stop even if it harmed me or kill me. He abused me. He was demolishing the church mercilessly. He is a cruel man; he wants us to go from here so that he can take possession of our lands.
SLMP provided some background to the area conflict in Sardar Town, where there are maybe bye 60 Christian families out of hundreds of Muslims. The town is reportedly about 20-25 years old. The one church is the building demolished. Lahore (a nearby city) Development Authority (LDA) claim that the land on which the church sits belongs to them.
SLMP said about seven years ago, LDA tried a land grab but the intervention of a local politician saved the church-until now.
SLMP said, Now some politicians from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Sharif group are very (keen) to grab the land of Christians in this area.
SLMP said a criminal case has been registered with the police by Pastor Zafar Iqbal, against a Muslim man named Nanha Bhatti.
According to SLMP, Kamran Michael the Minister of Human Rights and Minority Affairs for the Punjab Government assured Christians of his support concerning the issue. However, SLMP noted, police have not yet arrested the alleged perpetrators.
SLMP alleged that the official in charge of the case is reluctant to arrest the culprits as they have strong influence in the area.
SLMP said, (We) strongly condemn such kind of incidents and appeal (to the) government of Pakistan to take strict action against the culprits . Christians of the areas are under threats, the local pastor is helpless and seems himself weak to pursue the case against powerful politicians who are backing land mafia.
SLPM said the group hopes individuals and organizations will step forward and help area Christians, as well as providing financial help for the reconstruction of the church.
Church Reportedly Demolished by Muslim Land Mafia
A church in Lahores Sardar Town has been destroyed by reported Muslim land mafia.
According to a report from Sharing Life Ministry Pakistans (SLMP), Sohail Johnson, the independent Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) King of Kings Church was demolished on Nov. 15. The vandals bulldozed the church building, trashed Bibles, broke the churchs sound system, hit Christian women and injured a little boy.
SLMP claims the leader of the vandals was a Muslim man named Nanha Bhatti, who along with his friends, attacked the church.
SLMP said when the attack occurred the female members of the church were preparing for a convention at the church on Nov. 16-17. Their husbands were at work. Although they were informed about the incident, SLMP said by the time they reached the church, Bhatti and his group had already left the scene. When the women attempted to resist the attackers, they were reportedly slapped and had bricks thrown at them.
SLMP said as a result a five-year-old boy was hit in the forehead with a brick and his forehead needed five stitches. The churchs sound system was also destroyed.
Reportedly, SLMP said, a local government clerk also accompanied Bhatti.
A church elder told SLMP that the pastor was out of town at the time of the attack, and it was evening before he returned.
An individual told SLMP that Bhatti is a member of the land mafia, and has some official support. He added, They all have joined hands with each other to take Christians land into their possession.
Another person told SLMP that local Sunnis objected to the churchs prayer meetings being held at the same time as the Muslim call for prayer. He said the cleric was assured by Christians they would change their prayer meetings so the Muslims call for prayer would not be disturbed.
SLMP said another informant told the group, I was at home when Nanha Bhatti brought the bulldozer. My house is next to the church. I tried to stop the bulldozer, but Nanha asked the driver of bulldozer not to stop even if it harmed me or kill me. He abused me. He was demolishing the church mercilessly. He is a cruel man; he wants us to go from here so that he can take possession of our lands.
SLMP provided some background to the area conflict in Sardar Town, where there are maybe bye 60 Christian families out of hundreds of Muslims. The town is reportedly about 20-25 years old. The one church is the building demolished. Lahore (a nearby city) Development Authority (LDA) claim that the land on which the church sits belongs to them.
SLMP said about seven years ago, LDA tried a land grab but the intervention of a local politician saved the church-until now.
SLMP said, Now some politicians from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Sharif group are very (keen) to grab the land of Christians in this area.
SLMP said a criminal case has been registered with the police by Pastor Zafar Iqbal, against a Muslim man named Nanha Bhatti.
According to SLMP, Kamran Michael the Minister of Human Rights and Minority Affairs for the Punjab Government assured Christians of his support concerning the issue. However, SLMP noted, police have not yet arrested the alleged perpetrators.
SLMP alleged that the official in charge of the case is reluctant to arrest the culprits as they have strong influence in the area.
SLMP said, (We) strongly condemn such kind of incidents and appeal (to the) government of Pakistan to take strict action against the culprits . Christians of the areas are under threats, the local pastor is helpless and seems himself weak to pursue the case against powerful politicians who are backing land mafia.
SLPM said the group hopes individuals and organizations will step forward and help area Christians, as well as providing financial help for the reconstruction of the church.
Church Reportedly Demolished by Muslim Land Mafia