LAHORE – The Punjab government on Saturday announced to hand over the possession of the disputed land of recently demolished Gosha-e-Aman to the Catholic Diocese, maintaining that the operation was meant to vacate the building from illegal occupants. Punjab Finance Minister, Kamran Michael, who also represents minorities in the government, addressed a news conference on Sunday to make the announcement.
The Arch Bishop of Lahore Catholic Church, Sabestian Shah has welcomed the announcement by Punjab government provided the same is implemented in letter and in spirit. He, however, said that their planned protest demonstration would be held as scheduled on Monday at 1 pm, as government had not given them any thing in black and white regarding the decision. The finance minister said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had also directed to award a two-and-half kanals piece of government land adjacent to the site to the Catholic Diocese for the purpose of construction of a school and a shelter home for the old. He said that the Christian Community was thankful to the CM for such a support. He said security and sanctity of religious places and properties would be ensured in future.
Kamran Michael was the of the view that the piece of land, situated at Allama Iqbal Road, opposite to Jamia Namia was under the unlawful possession of land mafia for the last over two years and the mafia were trying to sell it out. The government smelled their motives and retrieved the land from them with timely interference, he added.
“District Administration retrieved land of Gosha-e-Aman with the permission of court which declared the site ‘Nazool Land’ (the land, nobody owned) after getting orders from court before launching operation”, he told reporters. He assured that government would not allow any person to use church property for any other purpose. “In fact, some elements were exploiting the emotions of Christian community by highlighting demolition issue of Gosha-e-Aman just for achieving their political motives which might result in clash between government and Christian community and I condemn the illicit motives of such black sheep.”
He clarified that no NOC was issued by Punjab Watch Committee for using such Church land for any other purpose while some elements were misguiding the community in this regard. He further said that government always protected rights of minorities, living within the boundaries of the province on priority basis and it would ensure provision of basic rights of minorities with protection in future as well. Replying to a question, he said that provincial government has also decided to move the Supreme Court for transfer of Evacuate Trust Property control/powers to provinces.
Meanwhile, a dozen of workers of Pakistan Minorities Movement staged a protest demonstration against alleged unlawful act of demolition of Gosha-e-Aman. They chanted slogans against provincial government and Minister for Minority Affairs. In a related development, the Archdiocese of Lahore has announced a protest on Monday against what he called the cruelty of the government, according to a press release issued by Bishop Sebastian Shaw.