LAHORE,
PAKISTAN – (ANS)- The row has broken out in Pakistan after the
Gosh-e-Aman Institute, an historic Roman Catholic institution, established in
1887, has been demolished on the orders of the Punjab provincial government

It stood on a 2-acre area now worth
billions of rupees and housed a senior citizens’ home, a girls’ school, a
convent and a chapel and was demolished on January 10, 2012.

The legal arguments over who owned
the building and the land has been going on for some time; at least since a
woman convert to Islam had sought shelter in the facility.

The Catholic Church had filed a
petition at the Lahore High Court (LHC) protesting at what he says is the
illegal demolishing of the building.

Father Emmanuel Yousaf Mani,
director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace has been leading the
case at the Lahore High Court.

The residents have since been trying
to find shelter.

Zenobia Richards, 61, told ANS,
“The Catholic Church has filed the petition only for the illegal
demolishing, but not for the desecration of the church, which is unacceptable.
I have filed a case at the LHC against the desecration of the Bible, Mary`s
Statue and the rosary. I am surprised that the Church in spite of having the
authority didn’t mention the desecration.

“I have also questioned them
that why they had given the land to a Muslim inside the church premises. I will
fight for my right. I saw everything happening in front of my eyes. God has
given me the courage to file a case for blasphemy.”

Father Emmanuel Yousaf, after
appearing in the LHC said, “The case is in the court and we have full
confidence in our legal system. We have filed the case for illegal demolishing
of Gosh-e-Aman. We are trying to do whatever we can for the displaced.”

A representative from the Lahore
Development Authority (LDA) said that the land was government property, and it
was in possession of a “land mafia.” The group was led by a woman,
who was a Christian who had converted to Islam. She had deployed armed men
around the property to resist demolition by the LDA officials. The church had not
been able to oust her, but she left the place before it was demolished.

Pervaiz Rafique, a Member Provincial
Assembly says that he will be raising the matter on the floor of the Punjab
assembly and will demand the Government officials to answer why they had
illegally demolished the Church property.

Zenobia Richards, 61, has been
working for the Catholic Church for over 24 years,and she lived alone and had
no connection with the Muslim convert.

The case is in the court, the Church
leadership has refused to talk to anyone regarding the proceedings. The
question about the Muslim convert being the legal or illegal occupant is being
investigated as she claimed that she had the property documents and the church
had transferred the land to her, but the LDA and other government officials say
she was illegally living there.

Gosh-e-Aman (Corner of peace) was
established by Catholic Church of Pakistan in 1887 and, after the creation of
Pakistan, it was being administered jointly by the Catholic Church, Anglican
Church and the Presbyterian Church. Later, in 1970′s, Caritas was looking after
the property. Since 2001 a welfare trust had been taking care of the premises.
There were around 5-6 families in the premises along with the women who later
converted and became a Muslim.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading …

About Rodrick Samson

Rodrick Samson is a freelance
reporter for The Cypress Times living in Pakistan who risks his life to expose
the truth about persecution of Christians.

• Mail

|

• Web

|

• More Posts (3)