Bishop Peter Majeed on Saturday said that the provincial government and local administration has failed to provide protection to the Christians living in Mardan district from the last several years.
He expressed these views while briefing the local reporters at Church on Saturday.
Father (Pastor) Ghulam Shaad, father (Pastor) Chand and other elders of Christians were also present on this occasion.
“It is astonishing act that some extremist in the name of Allah and his Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) burnt, destroyed and looted the Church located in a sensitive area in the Chief Minister Hoti’s constituency and also located near the house of CM’s father-in-law and district police officer (DPO) and other police high-ups offices”, he added.
Bishop Peter Majeed further said that this church was constructed in 1937 and he is fourth Bishop of this church. He added that they collected charity to repair this church.
He said that Muslims and Christians are cousins because their roots are one. He said that we have already condemned the act of the mentioned person, who produced anti-Islam film. He said that the person who produced the film isn’t a Bishop and nor Christian but he is a terrorist and after some months he releases such type of things to create differences among Christians and Muslims.
He added that such anti-Islam film by the mentioned person creates difference among Muslims and Christians and due to which on Friday during protesting hundreds of protesters entered the church and burnt and looted church, house of Bishop, father and school principal and also burnt the school and library in which more then 3000 books about Bible and more then 6000 books about other religion including Islam were present.
The Bishop said that protesters also wanted to burn our child named Zeeshan but God protected him. He added that protesters burnt every thing present in church, houses and school and also broke the iron made things. He said that this process was continued from more then three hours but local administration and police high-ups closed their eyes on this situation.
He added that some of their elders contacted local police high-ups but they sent only five police constables for the protection of church and house which was great joke. He said that Christian are living a peaceful life from the last several years but now a question of security is created among the Christians of Mardan and Christians feel that their lives and property aren’t safe in Mardan.
He accused that local administration is responsible for this destruction. He added that attack of protesters on Church is a pre-planned act because they brought patrol and other such types of things which they threw in the church they very quickly started burning and destroying the things in moments. He said that in all over the country only Mardan church is targeted which is a question for government and local administration.
He demanded the government to provide protection to the Christians and also provide them funds for the reconstruction of church, houses, school and library otherwise Christians will be compelled to migrate to other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Senator Mohammad Azam Khan Hoti father of Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti, member provincial assembly (MPA) Haji Ahmed Khan Bahadur and other representative of different political parties visited the church and show condolence with the Christians.
On this occasion he also showed different parts of church, houses, school burnt by the protesters on Saturday.
Church destroyed: Christians unhappy with government in Mardan
