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RAWALPINDI: A U.P Church in Gujar Khan, a city in district Rawalpindi was set on fire overnight by local businessman, church administration said on Saturday.
On March 30, 2024 at midnight the church was set on fire by unknown persons. Reverend Adeem Alphonse, the pastor in charge, explained that the church faced challenges due to the plaza under construction next to the building.
According to the reports, church administration wanted to set-up tents outside for an event at the church but local businessman didn’t give them permission and church was mysteriously set on fire midnight.
The church had blocked the road for security reasons on Good Friday, causing tension with the owner of the plaza. Police intervened to resolve the conflict. According to the local sources, around 3:am the church caught fire. The church and its contents were completely destroyed. The incident is currently under investigation.
@MaryamNSharif
A church at Gujar Khan just a few miles away from Islamabad was set on fire at Sehri time today. pic.twitter.com/JERqFI2WVb— Gill (@Gillbaba3o2) March 30, 2024
However, Rawalpindi CPO Khalid Mahmood Hamdani said that initial investigation showed the fire was caused due to a short circuit, adding that they did not find any inflammable material on the spot.
According to the Rawalpindid police, the fire brigade and the police immediately reached the spot on the report of the fire and the fire was brought under control in time. “The police officers examined the scene and carried out investigations from all angles and the forensic teams also collected evidence. According to the preliminary investigation, the fire broke out due to the electric short circuit,” police said in a statemenet.
READ MORE: Shopkeeper shots robbers to death in Rawalpindi
During a peaceful protest staged by the Christian community on Saturday, Elder Javed, administrator of U.P Junior Church said, police had termed the incident as an accident due to electric short circut in FIR, thought he nominated a local businessman for the fire incident. They just wanted to celebrate Easter tomorrow (Sunday), he said while talking to the media.
Mr. Javed alleged that he or someone else at his behest had torched the church. Assistant Commissioner Gujar Khan Murad Hussain Nekokara assured the protesters of a fair investigation into the incident.
Pastor in charge of the tourched church, Rev. Alphonse is currently engaged in oral Bible translation and recording the Pothwari language, a tribal language spoken in Northern Punjab. This project is a joint effort between the Church of Pentecost Lahore, Pakistan, and Wycliffe Associates.
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