Petulant PML-N will RAZE the Slums in the Capital

katchi abadis residents protest eviction 8-24-15

Here something to think about in reading Shamim Masih’s report on Christian persecution in Pakistan:

Police collusion is strongly suspected in a massive arson attack on the Christian Joseph Colony in the Pakistani city of Lahore on March 9 and legal people are questioning whether there is a property-related agenda behind the attack. 

 The chief justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudry, rejected the police report on the incident during a hearing in the Supreme Court on March 11, accusing them of sheltering criminals and failing to act to prevent the violence, even though he believes they had prior knowledge that it was being planned. 

 He asked if a property-related matter was the real reason behind what he called police collusion in the attack, which was carried out by around 3,000 Muslim men. 

 It occurred on the morning of March 9, destroying at least 160 homes of low to middle class Christians and 18 shops, as well as one Catholic church and a Seventh Day Adventist complex. 

 Sister Marie Cecile Osborne, the principal of the Jesus Mary and Joseph Convent School in Lahore, said, “In 2012, elements close to Shahbaz Sharif, the chief minister of the Punjab, and his brother, Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, were involved in a politico-police action to grab land in Lahore belonging to the Catholic Church.” [Bold Emphasis is Blog Editor’s] 

 Prior to the looting and burning of Joseph Colony, a 25-year-old Christian man, Sawan Masih, was accused of blasphemy by Imran Shahid, a crime that is punishable by death. 

 Masih and Imran had been friends. Dilawar Masih, a Christian whose shop was destroyed in the attack, said, “Both Imran (Shahid) and Sawan (Masih) were close friends. Imran has made the allegation only to settle a personal score, because they had quarrelled [sic] over some petty matter.” 

 The police then visited the area and advised the Christian people to leave, which most of them did. 

 But so did the police, who then did nothing to protect the property, even though they knew trouble was brewing. 

 … 

 She also accused the police of colluding in the attack. “Indications are the police were ordered to leave the scene before the violence began.” She implied strongly that the Sharif brothers are behind the whole affair in their attempt to get property. [Bold Emphasis is Blog Editor’s] 

 … READ ENTIRETY (Stench of police collusion in land grab as Christian village is burned; By CATHOLIC NEWS OF THE WEEK; Sunday Examiner – Hong Kong Diocese; 9/5/15)

When Shamim fingers Nawaz Sharif of the ruling political party PML-N, he is pointing to the political corruption of Pakistan’s political leaders especially as it relates to Christian forced to primarily live in urban slums in Pakistan. Shamim is a shining light in a nation dominated by Islamic darkness. Corrupt politicians aim first at helpless minorities. In the case of the urban slums (katchi abadis) this target is the displacement of Pakistani Christians.

JRH 9/9/15

Please Support SlantRight 2.0

******************************

Petulant PML-N will RAZE the Slums in the Capital

By Shamim Masih

Sent: September 4, 2015 03:37

ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) party in Pakistan is evidently considered against the Christians in the country. Most of the inhuman retort, like burning a Christian couple, burning Christian colonies after accusing any Christian had been in Punjab during its rule. A death penalty punishment was being added in blasphemy law by the Godfather of Nawaz Sharif, (Gen Zia ul Haq). The PML-N leader was reportedly behind the burning of the hundreds of the Christians’ houses including two churches in Joseph Colony, Lahore in March, 2013.

Now during the rule of the said party the Capital Development Authority (CDA) plans to demolish 41 slums in different sectors of the capital though few katchi abadis were regularized with no development by the CDA though promised. CDA informed the Supreme Court that katchi abadis will be demolished in four phases but no time frame was given to execute the plan.

Under phase I, the slums to be knocked down are: Street 17 of Sector I-10/1, Sector H-11/2 Kashmir Highway, Roshan Colony Sector I-12, Christian Colony Sector G-6/1-4, Dhobi Ghat G-6/2, Sector F-8/1 Nazimuddin Road, Green Belt H-12 and I-12 behind NUST, Muzaffar Colony H-11/4, Musharraf Colony G-8/4, Muhallah Dori Bagh, Miskeen Colony G-8/4, Shopper Colony G-7 Markaz, Sector H-9 and Bari Imam Katchi Abadi.

Likewise, 11 katchi abadis will be removed under phase II. They are: Chak Shahzad (PIA), Chak Shahzad Pona Faqiran, Dhoke Pathan Chamber Road Abadi, Dhoke Pathan (Sahila), Khanna Pull, New Shkrial katchi abadi, Shams Colony Bhangra Road, Rawat, Sumbal at Korak Town, Junejo Colony, Mohriyan and NIH Colony.

Five similar colonies are slated to be demolished under phase III. They are: Bheka Syedan F-11, Sectors G-12, F-12, E-12 behind Khushian Wali Sarkar and I-11/2 Bakra and Surain.

In phase IV, the slums to be removed are located at Sectors G-7/1, G-7/2 (66 quarters), G-7/3-2 (48 quarters), F-6/2, F-7/4 France Colony, Hansa Colony G-8/1, Essa Nagri I-9/1 and Muslim Colony, Bari Imam.

A petition was moved in the Supreme Court, seeking that the state is bound to provide the evicted people shelter and other amenities under the constitution. On the other hand, the civic agency submitted a report stating that the plan to demolish the slum settlements had been approved by the interior ministry. The Apex Court [is] sounding silent, besides, in February 2014 the Islamabad High Court had also issued directions in this regard.

 

Most of the people in these slum areas are Christians, and have been living for more than three decades. They are constantly living under threat though serving the well-to-do families in the capital. Most of them work as laborers, housekeepers, street cleaners but the authorities has not provided them housing facilities. Their children are starving and families choose to sell themselves into slavery for survival, illustrating that humanity has left the nation of Pakistan.

Mostly living across the seasonal drainages (Nalaas) and always affected by the flood every year in the rainy season but no disaster recovery plan or infrastructure has been put in place to enhance their safety and security. Victims lost most of their possessions every year which washed away with their homes or irretrievably ruined by water surge. But they again manage their livings. Many of them have been drowned during the raining season and died, left their children helpless. These people are living without any proper drainage system, no pure water facility, no regular electricity and gas facility provided by CDA.

If the CDA starts its operation against the slums, it will leave a hundred thousand Christians homeless in the first phase only. Christian Colony Sector G-6/1-4, Musharraf Colony G-8/4, Miskeen Colony G-8/4, Shopper Colony G-7 Markaz, and Sector H-9 are thickly populated areas. Thus the operation will ruin more than half million Christians in population on the ground.

 

Note: - I have been working tirelessly to raise voice and to help end injustice for the Christians in Pakistan. But certainly with the limited resources [I] can’t do it on a regular basis. If you feel [same need to aid fellow Christians], please support this cause that I might continue to write for Pakistani Christian. I shed tears when I heard the story of this repeating plight [of Christian persecution] and [I] hope others are moved by the tragic lifestyle these families face daily.

For Americans especially, I have discovered the best way to donate to Shamim Masih is via Western Union sending money with this LINK to a Western Union agent in Islamabad. Include Shamim’s phone - +92-300-642-4560

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih

Correspondent,

Pakistan Today, (About Pakistan Today)

Blogger and Human Rights Activist
http://oiwerk.blogspot.com/

________________________

Edited by John R. Houk

Any text enclosed by bracket is by the Editor.

© Shamim Masih

Duplicity of Pak Govt. toward Religious Minorities

Shamim Masih writes about how the Pakistani government is ignoring all of Pakistan’s religious minorities to the favor of Sunni Islam. In my case I am interested in how Sunni Muslims get away with persecuting Christians with nearly no legal recourse.

JRH 7/4/15

Please Support SlantRight 2.0

************************

Duplicity of Pak Govt. toward Religious Minorities

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 7/3/2015 5:02 PM

ISLAMABAD: My article printed on June 20, 2013 at Daily Times, Islamabad (SlantRight 2.0 version) stated that Pakistani Christians have thrown some of their political support to Pakistan Muslim League (N) [Wikipedia] in the election on 11 May 2013, even though they have reason to be wary of his return to power. A majority of the Pakistani Christians are not optimistic about Sharif’s government because of their religious approach and prejudiced mind set. In general, Pakistan is unable to achieve its desired status in the comity of nations despite have good natural and human resources; the reason is that there is injustice at the heart of all its systems on all levels.

The PML-N’s history of ruling over Punjab province is marked by several episodes of anti-Christian violence. Although blasphemy laws are being misused in the country widely but most of the cruel incidents against Christians happened in the Punjab province under Sharif’s rule [PCP – 5/25/15; SWI – 3/11/13]. Present PML-N government has not only shown its duplicity in Punjab province but exposed at the federal level as well.

After the deadly blasts in two Churches of Yohanabad which killed at least 17 people and around eighty people were injured in the explosions, yet normalcy hasn’t returned. Many families haven’t returned to Youhanbad. The suicide bombings in two churches were timed to cause optimum damage since there were 2000 worshippers present in the Sunday mass. But volunteer security guards and policemen engaged the suicide bombers at the gate at the cost of their own lives. The angry [Christian] mob burned the two [Muslim] suspects who were later found to be innocent. The media devoted more airtime to lynching and the mob’s vandalism than to the aftermath of the bombings. Thus the real image of Christians was forged. We heard Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, addressing the Parliament termed the lynching the “worst form of terrorism.” His outburst prompted the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan to urge the authorities to exercise caution and “avoid giving the impression that they are keen to pursue the killers of the two men than they are in protecting the minority community’s rights against terrorists’ attacks.” No one has ever been punished for all the crimes committed against the Christian community but police have registered terrorism cases against hundreds of the Christians, identified through video footage and photographs of the mob attack. Each night since, said Pastor Ashknaz, plainclothes policemen arrived, “prop up ladders, break down doors and pick up the men on basis of more suspicion.” Residents claimed police have even targeted children. The authorities appear more concerned with Muslim victims than Christian ones.

Another discriminatory behavior from Punjab government is that with a population of 100,000 mostly Christians of Youhanabad are still deprived of the Metro Bus service at Youhanabad station. They use the bus terminal where they face systematic harassment each day. Especially Christian women of the area have been facing harassment after the incident. The very next day, people started pouring out of mosques to avenge the killings; the Muslim mob violence went public, several Christian boys from the area were beaten, allegedly in retaliation to the lynching. A church has also been vandalized, its windows were broken and doors marked with black paint. The attacks may be sporadic, but the fear they cause is very real. Aslam Pervaiz Sahotra and many others are still waiting for justice behind bars. In this cruelty Christian associates of PML-N have join hands with the sitting provincial government. The prominent member gets boots [uncertain meaning?] from the CM Shahbaz Sharif couple of years back [Might reference Sharif’s secret negotiations with Islamic terrorists]. None of the responsible person from the government side has yet visited the heartbroken community.

Now when Interior Minister forced “Save the Children” to shut down its office in the country, then he added many other INGOs to follow strict new licensing procedures. Recently Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan canceled the visas of three Philippine nuns, prompting a lawsuit from the Catholic Church. Express Tribune reported that they were accused of “engaging in employment in violation of their visa category.” The nuns have been working in Pakistan for decades, but now they were told they must leave.  Abid Nazir, an attorney said that these nuns are “missionary workers” and have devoted their lives to educating and helping impoverished children in Pakistan. He fears that interior minister has a personal dispute with principal. Nazir said Nisar Ali Khan’s wife used to work as a teacher at the school but resigned in 2011 after the dispute with principal.

Still, the controversy is another example of how Pakistan is again taking a more aggressive stance toward some foreigners trying to work here. When US missionary inquired about a months old travel request, a communications officer said the matter was being held up by the Interior Ministry. Pakistani government is practicing unannounced banned on international missionaries visiting Pakistan just because of personal liking or disliking. The recent crackdown is so surprising; there has been no known trigger for it. During the last visit of Secretary of State John Kerry, said both Pakistani and U S officials have been stressing that relations between two countries have greatly improved.

It’s a mindset of the present government; [viz. the] Interfaith Harmony Ministry is merged and all minority issues are held. This means, there are no minorities’ voice neither in the legislation nor outside the house [See “Government failed to promote interfaith harmony in Pakistan”- PCP 2/22/13 and “International Religious Freedom Report for 2011” – U.S. State Dept.]. This government cunningly has sidelined all the minorities’ so called representative in the parliament house. It is noteworthy that if the democratic process in any state has to be checked then one must look at how its minorities are treated. No society can aspire to call itself democratic if it systematically excludes specific groups from the full protection of laws, provision of equal rights and opportunities.

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih

++

Human Rights Activist, Diplomatic Correspondent, MOFA, Diplomacy, UN, F & S, MOST, PTI and Daily Sama Islamabad (Urdu language)

Shamim’s Blog: http://oiwerk.blogspot.com/

For Americans especially, I have discovered the best way to donate to Shamim Masih is via Western Union sending money with this LINK to a Western Union agent in Islamabad. Include Shamim’s phone - +92-300-642-4560

____________________________

Edited by John R. Houk

All source links and any text enclosed by brackets are by the Editor.

© Shamim Masih

My killer is my judge

We Christians need to pray for the Christians of Pakistan. Muslims commit acts of violence against the Pakistani-Christian community with impunity. Those Christians affected by violent persecution then are subject to criminal persecution as well as the few Christians that have escaped Muslim violence. The criminal persecution is legal in Pakistan and that surrounds Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws. The Blasphemy Law is used as a false accusation tool against Christians to settle disputes between Christians and Muslims AND to cease the property of the few Christians that are owners.

Below Shamim Masih writes with the gloom Christians face in Pakistan. I can read between the lines in Shamim’s report to understand this gloom is taking a toll on him as well.

JRH 5/30/14

Please Support SlantRight 2.0

*****************************

Mera Qatil he mera munsif hy

(My killer is my judge)

By Shamim Masih

Sent: 5/29/2014 4:32 PM

ISLAMABAD: The threat matrix for Pakistan religious minorities has changed radically now after the Pakistan Muslim League (N) came in power. There was numerous blasphemy cases registered in the Punjab province during the rule [of the] PML-N regime in the past and the same practice [goes] on. A Christian family including children and women were burnt alive and the Christian colony was set ablaze in Gojra city in 2009. In the province of Punjab, Sangla Hill and Joseph Colony, Lahore; the same practice [was] seen, blasphemy cases were registered for their vested interests but no action is being taken against the forged complainants.

This is not the end, as soon as the PML-N government came to power in the federal [government], Islamabad slum settlements were cautioned to vacate and were considered [as] encroachment. The inhabitants [have been] there for four decades. Now officials in the capital of Punjab province, Agency, along with the police from different stations reached at the Katchi abadi [i.e. the slums] in Qaziabad and Gulshan-i-Ravi with bulldozers and excavators in the early morning. The workers began demolishing houses amid cries of women and children. The Punjab government seems in a hurry now to crush the Christians during their rule. The colony was reportedly built some 40 years ago and during the Nawaz Sharif’s first government, he then promised them that no one would force them to leave their houses. But during his rule he has lifted them all. In recent past; the Islamabad High Court’s Justice Shaoukat Aziz Siddique had directed Capital Development Authority (CDA) to clear the slum settlements from the Capital, Islamabad. Let me give you [some] Urdu poetry: Mera qatil he mira munsif hy, kia mery haq mein faisla dy ga (My killer is my judge, will he decide anything in my favor).

    

The case is not related to Christians only but others are suffering too. A university professor was entangled in a blasphemy case and his attorney was killed. A blasphemy case was registered against 65 protesters in his favor. Shaista Wahidi (Geo TV anchor), her TV owner and two partakers had to flee from the country due to this reason [i.e. the Blasphemy charge]. A man in a small district, Shariq pur; accused in blasphemy case was killed during his judicial investigation. A foreign national non-Muslim doctor was killed during his visit to Pakistan.

   

Pakistan is a country where the majority of its population is living below poverty the line. Unemployment, poverty, illiteracy and terrorism are common problems. But religious minorities face discriminatory laws and other issues as well. Christians in the country stand nowhere, if [they] live along seasonal drainage or a katchi abadi, it is considered encroachments. If [a Christian] takes a sip of water, they are considered untouchable and sent to jail for life imprisonment. [This] is the basic reason with Asia Bibi [who] has been suffering for years. Lahore High Court is hanging her case hearing with a lame-less excuse. Another pregnant woman was killed right under the nose of Lahore High Court, Lahore. The law and order situation is beyond control.

  

The problem with Pakistani Christians is unity. Fortunately or unfortunately; they are all born leaders and do not want to sit with others. I personally feel this is basic reason of their sufferings. During the last two decades; the Hindu minority have proven that they are the largest minority in the country. None of Christian parliamentarians has spoken even a single word for their favor in NA. There are two mummies seen who [are] always seen roaming about here and there during the session in the recent one year.

Unfortunately we don’t have any national level regular platform to highlight the issues. The national papers and private TV channels don’t give ample space for Pakistani Christians’ issues. Although there are some private TV channels running under Christian religious administration but again I would say, these people have made it family ownership and promoting their families instead raising real cause and issues Christians are facing and we can’t highlight the actual issues. Their agenda is totally different.

  

Religious leaders and social activists are running for their vested interests. Many Christian families are suffering in Thailand, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. UNHCR is not paying heed to these asylum seekers. They have reportedly paid in hundred thousand [Blog Editor: I am unsure if Shamim is talking in terms of dollars, rupees or people] for immigration. Most of the Christians are shifting to other countries and the rest do not find any future in the country. Are we equal citizen; If not should we stand for our rights?      

Be Blessed,

Shamim Masih

__________________________

Edited by John R. Houk

Content enclosed in brackets is from the Editor.

© Shamim Masih

Special Correspondents

Daily Khabrian (PakBiz.com description) & Channel - 5

Human Rights Activist

Snapshot of Human Rights Activism from 2011

Christian Rights Activist
Freelance Journalist 

Secretary General of Information

Pakistan Christian Congress

Shamim Masih’s Donate/Support info:

Editor: For Americans especially, I have discovered the best way to donate to Shamim Masih is via Western Union sending to a Western Union agent in Islamabad.

FOR USD TRANSFER.
Intermediary Bank:                         MASHREQ BANK, NEW YORK
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC:         MSHQUS33
Beneficiary Bank:                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC:                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank:         70008227
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number:                 405527

Top of Form

IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227


FOR GBP TRANSFER.
Intermediary Bank:                         MASHREQ BANK, LONDON
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC:         MSHQGB2L
Beneficiary Bank:                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC:                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank:         00010855
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number:                 405527
IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227



FOR EURO TRANSFER.
Intermediary Bank:                         MASHREQ BANK, LONDON
Intermediary Bank SWIFT BIC:         MSHQGB2L
Beneficiary Bank:                         JS BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank SWIFT BIC:                 JSBLPKKA
Bank A/c # at Intermediary bank:         10847
Title Of a/c                                Shamim Masih
Beneficiary Account Number:                 405527
IBAN #                                        pk80jsbl9530000000405227