BAJAUR: The long-awaited church has finally been established in the Bajaur tribal district.

Establishment of the church had been the longstanding demand of the Christian community comprising over 500 families.

Construction work on the building approved in December 2014 completed a few weeks ago, district administration officials said.

Members of the Christian community told Dawn that construction of the church building started in August 2020 after the then MPA Wilson Wazir performed its groundbreaking.

They said inauguration of the church located in the Civil Colony, Khar, had been kept under wraps over security reasons. Jamal Maseh, a Christian community member, expressed his pleasure over the establishment of the church.

Commenting on the development, Pakistan Minority Alliance’s Bajaur chapter president Parvez Maseh, 62, told Dawn that construction of a church in Bajaur was truly a historic moment for the community.

“We are thankful to the authorities for building the place of worship for us,” he said. He said the building was named as ‘United Church’, meaning it was for all the minority communities as well as the Muslims.

He said the authorities had provided five police personnel for security of the church.

However, he complained the authorities had yet to allocate land for a graveyard and a community centre for Christians.

He said absence of graveyard forced the community members to bury their dead in Malakand, Mardan, Nowshera and Peshawar graveyards.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Mohammad Anwarul Haq told Dawn that the Christian community had long been demanding church in Bajaur. He expressed the hope that the issue of graveyard would be resolved soon.

BAN: The district administration on Saturday banned firing in the air, use of firecrackers, display and carrying of weapons, swimming and boating in dams and rivers for 10 days.

A statement issued by deputy commissioner Mohammad Anwarul Haq said the ban imposed under Section 144 aimed to ensure better security for people and to maintain law and order situation in the district ahead and during the forthcoming Eidul Fitr. The statement said the ban was slapped to avoid such activities on Chand Raat that might cause damage to life and property of people. It said the order came into force with immediate effect.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2024