Punjab: Christians protest against government over building expropriation

Last week, the authorities evicted security staff and residents from Forman Christian College University. They were given “24 hours” to remove all property and historical artefacts. The administration is seeking a legal solution to retain control of the building. Christian activist: “The government has hurt the community’s feelings”.

Lahore (AsiaNews) - A sense of outrage and anger is mounting among Pakistani Christians following the decision by the Punjab provincial government to forcibly seize the historic Ewing Hall of Forman, located in Anarkali, near Neela Gumbat and the Old City.

Last week, the authorities evicted security staff and residents from Forman Christian College University (FCCU), announcing – so far only verbally – that the FCCU would have “24 hours” to remove all movable property.

These include generators, furniture and fittings, historical artefacts (which are said to include paintings) and other items; should the order not be complied with, ownership of the property and items will be transferred to the government.

Whilst the university’s Christian administration is seeking a legal route to retain control of the building, criticism is emerging from many quarters over a decision deemed as absurd as it is incomprehensible. At the start of the year, in fact, the FCCU had received a technical report – commissioned and paid for by the university’s own management – which concluded that the building is structurally sound.

Previously, the FCCU had vacated Ewing Hall, which was being used as a hall of residence, precisely because of concerns about the building’s structural integrity, out of an excess of caution and safety measures to protect the students.

A decision which, viewed in the light of the recent measures, appears to further penalise Christians. Moreover, following the report, the college’s leadership had decided to commence renovation works to address the critical issues and enable its use as a hall of residence.

On 13 June, Jonathan Addleton, Vice-Chancellor of Forman Christian College (an accredited university), speaking to local media outside Forman College, stated: “Over the past 48 hours, we have observed with growing concern the forced occupation of Forman’s historic Ewing Hall” in the historic centre of Lahore.

“Long an integral part of the Forman campus,” he continued, “the original lease was signed in 1915 and subsequently renewed several times, the last of which extended it until the 2040s.

In this context, on Wednesday afternoon [10 June, ed.] we were informed by telephone that the building would be occupied the following day; on Thursday we were also told that we had ‘24 hours’ to remove all movable property, including generators, furnishings and historical artefacts, an impossible task.”

“At this moment,” Addleton emphasises, “rumours continue to circulate, and one of these suggests that the building could be demolished in a hurry, despite our offer to collaborate and commit to the preservation of Ewing Hall and the cultural heritage it represents. In any case, the debate must involve the various stakeholders, including the minority communities of Pakistan for whom Forman holds such great significance.

Given its historical ties to Forman, the last two days have been marked by deep sorrow and many tears. Looking to the future, we urge members of civil society,” the rector concludes, “to voice their concerns, whilst we call on the government to reconsider its actions and return Ewing Hall to Forman.”

Speaking to AsiaNews, Kashif Aslam, a well-known Christian human rights activist, stated that the expropriation and eviction “raise deep concerns. Any intervention,” he adds, “involving a historic educational institution must be conducted through transparent legal procedures, in accordance with procedural safeguards and following meaningful consultation.

The 24-hour ultimatum to remove personal belongings and historical materials raises serious questions regarding fairness, institutional autonomy and the protection of cultural heritage. We urge the provincial government to clarify the legal basis for this action and to ensure that any dispute is resolved in a legitimate and transparent manner, and in a way that safeguards Pakistan’s educational and minority heritage.”

Naumana Suleman, founding president of the Minority Women Forum, adds: “This Christian community has a long history. Over the years, many institutions belonging to the Christian community have been nationalised, and places of worship and Christian settlements have suffered destruction at the hands of angry mobs. If the government’s intention – the activist explains to AsiaNews – is genuinely to return the property, its approach is inadequate. It should first have engaged with the college administration and gained their trust. Instead, the authorities issued an ultimatum demanding that the premises be vacated immediately. By acting in this way, the government has hurt the feelings of the Christian community. The FCCU is a college with over 100 years of history and the government’s move to seize one of its historic halls is a shameful act. The Christian community is already marginalised and has suffered numerous injustices in the country. By handling the matter in this way, the government is inflicting yet another wound on a community that has long endured discrimination and hardship. This is deeply regrettable and deserves unequivocal condemnation.”