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Pakistani Christians protest against 'illegal occupation' of YMCA hostel

Over 200 Christian residents of the Pakistani city of Karachi congregated on Monday, April 20, 2009, in front of a school being run under the aegis of the Karachi Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), to record their protest against what they consider to be the “illegal occupation” of the YMCA hostel and misuse of school’s play ground by land mafia groups for hosting wedding ceremonies and other festivals, reports Dan Wooding and Sheraz Khurram Khan, special to ASSIST News Service.

The protesters comprised of school children, men and even elderly women, who were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favor of their demands.

The protest was staged under the auspices of the YMCA Bachao Committee (Save YMCA committee), which is headed by Mr. Michael Javaid, a former member of the Sindh Provincial Assembly,.

Talking to ANS by phone, Javaid said that as the Christian protestors were marching towards the Karachi Press Club, they were stopped by law enforcement agencies. He said that there was extraordinary number of police, rangers, and officials of government agencies, out on the streets on Monday.

He said they said they feared that the Christians could go to Governor House as the YMCA stands opposite to the association’s building.

Javaid apprised ANS that he told the officials that the Christians wanted to go to YMCA school’s gate to pray for an end of “illegal occupation of the YMCA hostel and YMCA school’s playground.”

He said the protesters were then allowed to march towards the YMCA gate after he held out an assurance to authorities that the protesting Christians would not create any law and order situation and would disperse peacefully after registering their protest.

Speaking to the protesting Christians in the presence of a number of electronic and print media men, Michael Javaid demanded the “expulsion of all illegal occupants from the YMCA hostel.”

Referring to the YMCA school’s playground, he said: “Christians, in the past, have produced Olympians of hockey, badminton, basketball and cricket from this playground which has now been reduced to a venue for staging wedding ceremonies and other festivals.”

He vowed that the Christians would not rest until the illegal occupants have left the YMCA hostel.

Javaid told ANS he had drawn the attention of the Governor of Sindh’s attention toward the YMCA’s illegal occupation during a Christmas celebration ceremony on December 23, 2008.

“Months have passed without a change in the status quo,” regretted Javaid.

Addressing protesters, Javaid told them that they had gathered there to pray for what he called “liberation of Christian association” from the control of “criminals.”

The protestors blocked Strachan Road in front of the YMCA school. He said they would organize a further protest demonstration on May 1, 2009.

“People from all over Pakistan will come to Karachi to evict the land grabbers and criminals from the Christian institution,” said Javaid while referring to the YMCA, Karachi.

Referring to three Christian leaders who had given their casting votes for the creation of Pakistan, he said: “Pakistani Christians are now paying the price of their decision as they are being discriminated against in all walks of life ranging from the armed forces to education to health.”

Javaid alleged that Christians “do not have any freedom in Pakistan”.

He went on to say, “The Christians in North West Frontier Province and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan are fleeing their homes.”

He added that the lives and properties of Christians were “not safe in Pakistan.”

Several ministers, evangelists, pastors, laymen, and several Christian organizations’ heads participated in the protest demonstration.

Prominent among those who attended included Mr. Michael Javaid Mr. Riaz Nazir, Jamil Sawan, Rafique Bagh, Muzaffar Ayub, Naeem-ul-zaman, Emmanuel Dolat, Mrs. Shahzadi Michael, Mrs. Bahadar and Mrs. Muzaffar.

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TAGS: Pakistan YMCA hostel Christian protestors “illegal occupation” persecution

[04/22/2009]

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