GUJAR KHAN: The restoration of the burnt Presbyterian church remains pending, forcing worshipers to offer their Sunday prayers elsewhere.

The elder of the church, Jawaid Masih, has demanded that the government take measures for the restoration of the church, which is the oldest worship place of Christians in the main city area of Gujar Khan.

The church was damaged by fire during the night following Good Friday celebrations on March 29.

Rescue 1122 extinguished the fire, while the police started investigating the matter. The Gujar Khan police have also dispatched circumstantial evidence to the Punjab Forensic Science Authority (PSFA) for analysis but the report is still awaited.

Later, responding to media reports, on April 2, Albert David, member of the National Minority Commission, under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, visited the affected building along with the clergy and Christian community and assured them that renovation and rehabilitation of the church would be recommended to the government.

The elder of the church said he also repeated his request to the assistant commissioner, Gujar Khan, seeking restoration of the church while talking to newsmen. He said that a week ago he had once again requested the assistant commissioner, but no action was taken to restore their worship place until now.

He said the members of the community were offering their prayers in the basement hall of the municipal committee building.

On the other hand, the local police, when contacted about the findings of the forensics, said the report was yet to be received from Lahore.

The Christian community and the caretakers of the church have urged the Punjab chief minister to order the early restoration of their worship place.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2024