LAHORE, Dec 23: The All Pakistan Minorities Rights Action Committee will stage a demonstration in front of the Governor’s House on Monday (today) against the demolition of 43-year-old church in Abu Bakr Block, Garden Town, by the land mafia allegedly backed by the PML-Q.

Church governing body secretary Mushtaq Sajeel Bhatti alleged that Hafeezullah Sheikh, Arshad Manzoor Khan, Haji Iqbal and others had demolished the church hall, parson houses and other structures spread over an area of nine kanals and 15 marlas at 6pm on Dec 11 after ejecting the priest, guards and their families by force with the help of police.

The Holy Bible, crucifix and other relics had been desecrated during the operation.

He said the church existed at the site since 1963 and the land mafia had been trying to grab its land for the past several years. The governing body had also secured an injunction from a civil court against the demolition of the church buildings harmony: The need for promotion of understanding between Christianity and Islam was stressed for checking terrorism and making world a peaceful place at a meeting attended by representatives of both faiths here on Sunday.

Addressing the meeting, the Convener of World Inter-Religious Council, Bishop of Raiwind Samuel Robert Azariah, said the Muslims and Christians should sink their differences and better understand each other to combat terrorism and injustice.

Noori Foundation Chairman Usman Noori and Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry (retired) said harmony between the followers of two faiths could go a long way in promotion of inter-religious peace because the Christianity and Islam had the largest following in the world.

Jamiat-i-Ahle Hadith (JAH) leader Maulana Hafiz Zubair Ahmed Zaheer said the Muslims and Christians could develop an understanding through a dialogue because there was no basic difference between the two religions.