Catholic Church Lohianwala 2023

Peace success Story

Zaman Masih shared the incident with DSP Mr. Nawaz Ghondal sahib

Conflict Background

The Christian community of Lohianwala has been established for many
decades. There is an atmosphere of brotherly love and brotherhood. People are
in harmony and share in each other's pain. It is a mixed settlement and the area is located near the Pindi Bass Pass of Gujranwala. On Thursday, Tazeem
and his family gathered at the local church to celebrate their father’s memorial service.

 

Cause Of Conflict

Muhammad Khula, the local chef, was cooking on the premises adjacent to the
church. Meanwhile, Tamour Masih alias Chand arrived. As soon as he came there, Aamir Nazir and others told him to leave the place. When he refused, they threw a shovel at him which hit his left arm, added Chand while he gave his statement. Consequently, Tamour Masih went aggressively and returned shortly thereafter with his Muslim friends Muhammad, Nazir, and a few people and started fighting. This dispute caused the disruption of the worship, leaving those in attendance feeling fearful and prompting the men and women to close the door of the church. Meanwhile, someone called the police helpline to say that some Muslims had attacked the church.

Local Christians are giving information about the incident to SP Civil Line Usman Munir Saifi
On special directions, Respected Dr Usman Munir Saifi Superintendent of Police Civil Line visited the area where Prof. Shahzad Lawrence briefed him about the incident.

Researching The Truth

It was clear as day that the incident was based on a purely personal fight which
was tried to be given a religious color. However, both parties were taken to the CPO office to find out the facts, District in-charge Security Ansar Maan inquired about the situation from both parties in front of me, as a Peace Committee member,  and Christian leaders. In which it became clear that the matter was of a personal grudge. There was no Christian-Muslim conflict in Lohyanwala, nor did any Muslim attack the church. Christian-Muslim relations were restored in the area and peace was established between the two communities through the efforts of the Christian members of the peace committee,  Babar Fakhria and I.

SP Civil Lines Usman Munir Saifi inspected the cooking area where the incident took place adjacent Catholic Church, Lohianwala, Gujranwala
SP Civil Lines Mr Usman Munir Saifi himself visited the occasion. Member District Peace Committee Professor Shahzad Lawrence briefed him.