ISLAMABAD, July 8: The Christian community here on Sunday held a protest demonstration against the occupation of two houses belonging to a church at G-8/2.

Holding placards and banners, the protesters, numbering about 500, marched from the ‘Our Lady of Fatima Church’ to Faisal Avenue and blocked the road. They also chanted slogans against the property mafia and the police.

Speaking on the occasion, Father Rehmat Michael Hakim said some elements had occupied the houses - number 11 and 12 - in Sector G-8/2 for the last 20 years. Now they are trying to involve the management of the church in a kidnapping case.

He said the district court had already ordered registration of a case against Mushtaq Ahmed for allegedly occupying the houses. He added:

“Mushtaq Ahmed filed an application through one Javed Iqbal with the police alleging that I had kidnapped an Afghan family in 2001.”

However, he said he had come to Islamabad in 2007.

He said a judicial enquiry should be conducted into the matter to clear who is guilty. He appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to take notice of the issue and ensure protection to the minorities’ property.

The protesters called upon the prime minister and adviser on interior to take action against the property mafia.

One of the protesters, Basharat Masih, told Dawn that the Christian community did not want to agitate in the interest of the country but some elements in the city were provoking them.