Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Fides Service) - The Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan has issued a statement firmly condemning an attack on a Christian village in the district of Sialkot on 3 February when a gang of unidentified men profaned a Catholic church, smashing the windows, the altar and burning liturgical books.
The motive was a land dispute over a piece of land owned by Christians and claimed by a local Muslim. The attack was immediately condemned by the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore and Peter Jacob secretary of the Bishops’ Justice and Peace Commission in a joint statement: “Violence against our defenceless community is growing because the government failed to take adequate measures to counter incidents in the past. The most recent example was that of Sangla Hill: 80 days since the destruction of three Christian churches there has been no proper trial of those responsible for this attack on Christians and Christian buildings”.
The statement says “discrimination is unchecked” and “the places of meeting and prayer of religious minorities are attacked in impunity”, calling on the government of Pakistan to guarantee justice.
After various episodes of intolerance, Catholic bodies and organisation for human rights such as the Bishops’ Justice and Peace Commission, the Commission for Peace and Human Development, the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance raised the question of respect for the rule of law, false charges against the minority and discrimination in Pakistan.
The Justice and Peace Commission has called for adequate measures to stop violence and the abrogation of the Blasphemy law.
Pakistan has a population of 155 million 97% Muslim (80% Sunni and 20% Shiite). Christians are 2.5%, including 1.2 million Catholics. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 13/2/2006 righe 27 parole 278)
