‘No church will be closed or sealed,’ says Punjab HR Minister

A general view of Sacred Heart Cathedral church in Lahore on Sept. 23, 2013. (AFP/File)

• Punjab government had earlier warned churches to manage their security or risk closure
• Ministry of Minorities Affairs claims the warning violates Supreme Court’s directives

LAHORE: Following the provincial government’s directive asking churches to make provisions to ensure security on their premises, Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs, Ejaz Alam Augustine denied the notion on Tuesday that failure to do so could lead to their closure.
“I have sought an explanation from the Home Department on why it has used words like ‘closure’ and ‘seal’ (in the memo)? No church will be closed or sealed. The government will help church administrations improve their security, wherever required,” he told Arab News.
The government of Punjab had issued a letter earlier this month warning churches to make the necessary arrangements by the end of March or risk closure. The notice has irked Christians in Pakistan with several saying that the authorities were shirking their responsibility by not protecting minorities.
Augustine said that the notice had been issued to “sensitize” church administrations on security issues since many of them had not made necessary arrangements to protect themselves despite several requests.
There are about 70 huge churches in Lahore, the capital city of the Punjab province, and more than 200 smaller ones. Major churches have already adopted several security measures using their own resources which include building bunkers and installing security cameras, he said.
“We have received threat alerts indicating that some of these churches may be targeted by miscreants. The letter has been issued so that church authorities adopt security measures on a priority basis,” he added.
Punjab government Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs, Ejaz Alam Augustine, confirmed the contents of the notification, saying that it was to “sensitize” church administrations on security issues since many of them had not made necessary arrangements to protect themselves despite repeated requests.
“We have received threat alerts indicating that some of these churches may be targeted by miscreants. The letter has been issued so that church authorities adopt security measures on a priority basis,” he told Arab News.
The Punjab Home Department, however, said it had not received any communiqué from the Ministry of Minorities Affairs.
“We have not received any letter from them,” Muhammad Basharat Raja, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, said while talking to Arab News. “If we get such a letter, we will respond within the ambit of law.”
Meanwhile, the church authorities analyzed the issue from a different lens. “The Punjab government is not only admitting its negligence but also violating the decision of the Supreme Court that has instructed the government to provide security to all religious places in the country,” Joseph Francis, National Director at the Center for Legal Assistance and Settlement, told Arab News.
In June 2014, the apex court had directed the federal and provincial governments to set up a special taskforce to protect places of worship belonging to non-Muslim citizens. “The government has failed to set up that taskforce till this moment,” Francis said.
Shunila Ruth, a Christian lawmaker from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, said that the government was taking all necessary measures to ensure the security of non-Muslim citizens but admitted that it was not possible to provide manpower to such a large number of churches.
“The number of churches in the province is very big and it is not possible to provide government force to every church. The community should also take measures for its security,” Ruth told Arab News.
Senior Pastor Shahid Meraj, dean of the Lahore Cathedral, said that it was “indecent” of the government to threaten churches with closure, even as he added that it was the shared responsibly of the government and the Christian community to take protective measures.
“Responsibility cannot be fixed on one side— government or the church— as it is the duty of both to make security arrangements,” he said. “The churches have taken protective measures. The government should play its role too. The word closure of churches on any account is indecent.”
However, another member of the community added that it lacked the funds to ensure the provision of safety measures. “The Christian community does not have enough resources and government should make all arrangements for the protection of churches,” James Channan, a priest, said. “The government cannot shift its responsibility to the clergy.”