Muslim mob ransacked and desecrated Church at Gowindhi, near Lahore, Pakistan

Written by: Jawad Mazhar (ROD / Special Correspondent for BosNewsLife in Pakistan)

Lahore, Pakistan, Oct 14^th, 2007: On Oct 10^th, 2007, a violent mob of Muslims allegedly ransacked and desecrated New Apostolic faith church at a village name Gowindhi, near Punjab province’s metropolis Lahore, near the Indian border. The attackers are at large because local Police have neither registered a case nor taken any action against them.

According to the Khalid Gill (Chief organizer Punjab, All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA)) Muslim mob mounted on the roof of the Church and hurled down the loud speakers of the Church.

Gill went on saying the mob of Muslim extremists also tried to destroy the boundary walls of the Church and put manure on them. Mob ripped up the Holy Bible, Book of Psalms and other Holy Books kept in the church. The mob also destroyed all the musical instruments, which were used during the praise and worship.

As the Muslim mob was desecrating the church a Christian youth Sattar Masih 26 informed local Christian clergy Pastor Pervaiz about the Muslim attack at the church.

Pastor Pervaiz contacted Police Station Hydiara immediately and asked for the rescue team. But the police not only failed to reach in time, it also blatantly refused to take action against the mob responsible for the desecration, damaging of loud speakers and ripping up of Holy Books at the Gowindhi Pentecostal Church.

A delegation of local Christian leaders comprising Rasheed Masih (Ex-Member District Council Lahore), Peter Gill (Ex-Member of Provincial Assembly of Punjab), Tariq Gill (Member District Council Lahore), Ayub Khawar Gill and Pastor Pervaiz protested and met Superintendent Police (Cantt) (SP)Ahmad Kamal.

Khalid Gill added that SP marked the application and forwarded to the Local Police Station Hydiara’s Station House Officer (SHO) for further action and investigation. Concerned Khalid Gill lamented that instead of taking action against the hard line Muslims responsible for this regrettable episode, the police is forcing local Christian community and leadership for reconciliation.

The situation is getting worse as Muslim shopkeepers of Gowindhi village have stopped selling kitchen and other house hold items to the Christian residents of the village.