Muslim mob ransacked and desecrated Church at Gowindhi.

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

Lahore, Pakistan, Oct 14th, 2007: On Oct 10th, 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.

Report prepared by ROD team including:

Jawad Mazhar, Nadeem Samuel, Ceramic Anneal, Zimran Elias, Imran Mazher, Asher
Emmanuel, Adnan Saeed, Noman Sharjeel and Salman Nabeel.

Report recommended by:

Mr Ferhan Mazher
Chairman, Rays of Development Organization, Sargodha, Pakistan
www.raysofdevelopment.org