Catholics accuse Punjab lawmakers of demolishing institute in Lahore
by Jibran Khan
A crowd gather this morning in front of the Lahore Press Club. Local provincial assemblymen are behind the demolition of the building to be replaced by a college. Court order is ignored. Two videos on YouTube show yesterday’s protest.
Lahore (AsiaNews) – Christians in Lahore continue to protest against Punjab provincial authorities for demolishing on Tuesday a Church-owned building and seizing the land around it. This morning at 10 am, a crowd gathered in from of the Lahore Press Club. Shouting and singing, they called the government’s decision to tear down ‘Gosha-e-Aman’ an abuse. The Catholic community centre was located in Allama Iqbal Road, Garhi Shahu, Lahore, and was run by Caritas Pakistan and the Lahore Charitable Association.
By going ahead with the demolition, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) violated a stay order Caritas had obtained from the Lahore High Court, which needed time to examine the case.
Protestors blame Provincial Minister Kamran Michael for the destruction of Gosha-e-Aman. They believe he had the order carried out to favour MNA Ayaz Sadiq who wants to establish a college where the Catholic institution once stood. They also want immediate action against the people involved for ignoring the stay order by the Lahore High Court.
“We are following orders from the Punjab Government. A senior official gave the directives for demolishing Gosha-e-Aman; they said we will take care of the stay order,” a senior LDA officer on the condition of anonymity.
“We are looking into all the options, a meeting has been called to discuss the course of action,” a Catholic Church official in Lahore said.
Critics blame the Punjab Government for not defending minorities and minority politicians for being clogs of the system rather than defender of their communities’ interests.
The Gosha-e-Aman (Corner of Peace) school was founded in 1887. It covers a two-acre area worth billions of rupees. It included an old age home, a girls' school, a convent and a chapel for prayer.
The issue over the building and its surrounding land has been before the Lahore High Court for a while even though the Church has all the papers proving ownership.
The controversy began when a woman convert to Islam claimed ownership to two rooms in the building after she was sheltered there.
Pakistan’s Catholic community and the Catholic Church’s National Commission for Justice and Peace uploaded videos on YouTube showing yesterday’s protests.
The two documents show the ruins of the building and scenes from the peaceful demonstration, songs, slogans and all. No incidents were recorded during the rally.
To see the first video, click here.
To see the second video, click here.
By going ahead with the demolition, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) violated a stay order Caritas had obtained from the Lahore High Court, which needed time to examine the case.
Protestors blame Provincial Minister Kamran Michael for the destruction of Gosha-e-Aman. They believe he had the order carried out to favour MNA Ayaz Sadiq who wants to establish a college where the Catholic institution once stood. They also want immediate action against the people involved for ignoring the stay order by the Lahore High Court.
“We are following orders from the Punjab Government. A senior official gave the directives for demolishing Gosha-e-Aman; they said we will take care of the stay order,” a senior LDA officer on the condition of anonymity.
“We are looking into all the options, a meeting has been called to discuss the course of action,” a Catholic Church official in Lahore said.
Critics blame the Punjab Government for not defending minorities and minority politicians for being clogs of the system rather than defender of their communities’ interests.
The Gosha-e-Aman (Corner of Peace) school was founded in 1887. It covers a two-acre area worth billions of rupees. It included an old age home, a girls' school, a convent and a chapel for prayer.
The issue over the building and its surrounding land has been before the Lahore High Court for a while even though the Church has all the papers proving ownership.
The controversy began when a woman convert to Islam claimed ownership to two rooms in the building after she was sheltered there.
Pakistan’s Catholic community and the Catholic Church’s National Commission for Justice and Peace uploaded videos on YouTube showing yesterday’s protests.
The two documents show the ruins of the building and scenes from the peaceful demonstration, songs, slogans and all. No incidents were recorded during the rally.
To see the first video, click here.
To see the second video, click here.
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