Peacekeeping and reconciliation process between Christians and Muslims after returning the piece of land of the Christian cemetery in Kotli Milian on 28.05.2024.

Review of the peacekeeping process by the District Administration and the District Police by returning the Christian cemetery land in Kotli Millain.

Kotli Millian is an ancient Christian settlement in Tatlay Ali, Tehsil Nosheran Virkan, District Gujranwala. Some Christian persons residents of the village Kotli Millain contacted me (Shahzad Lawrence) on 20.05.2024 and shared that a Muslim landowner named Rana Manzoor had plowed a large area of a Christian cemetery. Christians are a minority in the village and are helpless before the landlords.

I called them to the city for a meeting. A large number of the members of the Christian community came. We sat in the office of the church. Meanwhile, they received a phone call from their village that the landlord was still plowing the field. They informed the police helpline. Police arrested the Driver and took the tractor in their custody. On the same day, the police registered an FRI against the landlord, while the concerned tehsildar also visited the land. Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Tariq Qureshi took prompt action and issued orders to the concerned Assistant Commissioner. He went to Kot Millian and marked the boundaries of the Christian cemetery.

This positive initiative of Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Tariq Qureshi will be an example for those occupying the Christian cemetery. The Christian community is delighted because it is a vivid example of justice.

The Christian cemetery was marked with pillars by the land department on 22.05.2024. After a case was registered against the landlord by the police, local and other dignitaries of the area started efforts to reconcile the two parties. As the number of Christians in Kotli Millian is less this grudge should not lead to any tragedy in the future. Meanwhile, a mob attacked a Christian house, burnt and looted his shop allegedly blamed for the desecration of the Holy Quran in District Sargodha (another city). Soon after the incident of religious extremism in Sargodha City, the Gujranwala police took immediate steps to protect the churches and Christians. In addition, a meeting of the members of the Interfaith Harmony and Peace Committee was organized During the meeting Senior Superintendent of Police Rizwan Tariq directed the concerned police officials about security measures in Kotli Malian and other areas.

To avoid these concerns, the Christians from Kotli Millian met Shahzad Lawrence and Reverend Father Yusuf at St. Francis Xavier Church on 27.05.2024. After a long meeting and considering the circumstances and events, it was decided to forgive the Muslim landlords for public interest, inter-faith harmony, and peace.

The very next day, both parties were called to the office of the Superintendent of Police Mr. Shahid Nawaz Warrich who attended both parties humbly, and an agreement paper was signed by both parties.

In this way, the serious issue was solved peacefully using District Administration and District Police context. Deputy Commissioner Gujranwala Muhammad Tariq Qureshi is a dutiful and humanitarian officer. He issued orders for the identification of the Christian cemetery. 

It is worth mentioning that many Christian cemeteries in Gujranwala are in the possession of influential people due to a lack of markings and boundary walls.

However, with this exemplary initiative of Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Tariq Qureshi, there is hope that in the future, by identifying all such graveyards, they will be helped to get rid of the occupation mafia.
I am grateful to Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Tariq Qureshi, City Police Officer Muhammad Ayaz Saleem, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Shabbir Hussain Butt, Senior Superintendent of Police, Operations Dr. Muhammad Raza Tanveer, Superintendent of Police Sadar Division Shahid Nawaz Warrich, who helped the Christians to get justice.