The Church of Pakistan (CoP) has expressed serious concern over attempts being made by some elements to illegally grab and sell church properties in Quetta, Balochistan.

In a letter addressed to the Balochistan governor, chief minister, chief secretary, Quetta corps commander and the inspector general of police, Bishop Arshad Kaleem John, the moderator’s commissary bishop of Karachi and Balochistan, stated that a group of imposters was trying to sell the COP’s properties namely Christian Hospital, Mission Road, Quetta, Saint Teresa School, Vicarage, the residence of priest of Saint Mary's Church, Saint Mary's School-Cantonment, Bethel Memorial Church, Zargoon Road, and Hospital Compound (known as Mission Compound, opposite Christian Hospital, Quetta), on fake documents allegedly with the connivance of government officials and the land mafia.

“The Lahore Diocesan Trust Association (LDTA) and Methodist Board for Properties are the real owners of the stated church properties whereas the Diocese of Karachi/Balochistan is the legal attorney and custodian of those properties,” the letter stated.

The letter added that some elements in the Christian community had formed two different CMTAs (Church Mission Trust Association) and were making efforts to sell the properties to the land mafia on fake registration deeds and illegal agreements. “The government and law enforcement agencies must take notice of these malicious activities and ensure that the church properties are protected from illegal possession,” the letter concluded.

Separately, the CoP’s Synod Coordination Office has also expressed its concern over a press conference held at the Quetta Press Club on June 29, by “self-proclaimed bishops” Farrukh Javed, Younis Masih, Samuel Bashir Massey and Sunny E J Mall, and Hanook Masih (purporting to be the President of CMTA), Miss Ruby Barkat (purporting to be the General Secretary of CMTA).

In a press statement, the Synod office stated that these persons are using the name and nomenclature of Church Missionary Society (CMS) and Church Missionary Trust Association (CMTA) to sell the sacred heritage of the CoP.

“We have officially notified that none of these persons is associated with the CoP, nor are these persons recognized as bishops and trustees of church properties. The CoP will take all measures to prevent misappropriation of church properties,” it stated.

It added that church properties are trust properties and therefore cannot be sold, transferred or leased. “Whosoever executes any such illegal deal with these persons shall be guilty of misappropriating trust/church property. The Church of Pakistan requested the authorities and the general public to be aware of these fraudulent tactics being used to carry out illegal deals of church properties,” the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, CoP President/Moderator Bishop Dr Azad Marshall has also condemned the attempts to grab church properties.

In a statement, he said that the CoP has notified the Balochistan provincial authorities, including the governor, chief minister and the corps commander, about the efforts being made by miscreants to sell church-owned properties. “We will not let any person or group sell the church properties through fraudulent documents. Stern legal action will be taken against such imposters and those backing them,” he stated.