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Christians make up three percent of the total 160 million population while Muslims account for 95 percent. (IOL photo) |
PESHAWAR — The Christian community in the northern city of Peshawar welcomed a court verdict allowing the construction of a church inside the biggest university in the north western frontier province (NWFP) as a boost to religious harmony in the Asian Muslim country.
"It shows the acceptance of minorities' rights in the country," Christian Guinevere David, a senior journalist, told IslamOnline.net.
"We want to live with our Muslim brothers in harmony and peace. And let me say that a majority of Pakistanis are tolerant and friendly with Christians and other minorities," she added.
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) dismissed on Wednesday, January 24, a petition against the construction of a church in the premises of the state-owned Peshawar University.
Chief Justice Tariq Pervez said Islam fully ensures the religious rights of minorities.
He also asserted that the constitution does not ban the construction of a church, temple or worship places of any other minority.
"We respect the court's verdict, and we do no intend to challenge it in the Supreme Court," Khursheed Ahmad Shahan, counsel for the plaintiff, told IOL.
The petition was filed by a group of students on the ground that the Christian community, which runs hundreds of educational institutions across Pakistan, does not allow Muslim students to build mosques inside any of them.
"We have several examples only in the NWFP province, where Christian educational institutes do not allow Muslim students to set up even a temporary mosque," Salahuddin, leader of the student group, said in the petition.
"If they do not allow Muslim students and teachers construction of mosques on different reasons, then on what ground, the Peshawar University administration has allowed the construction of a church," he contended.
The vice-chancellor of Peshawar University has provided a land for construction of a church on the request of the varsity's Christian employees and nearby residents.
NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani, a member of the six-party religious alliance, Muttehida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), announced a donation of Rupees 30 million (14,000 US dollars) for the construction from the provincial government.
Religious Harmony
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NWFP Chief Minister Durrani announced a donation of Rupees 30 million (14,000 US dollars) for the church's construction.
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The Christian community hoped the new verdict would further promote religious harmony in the Asian Muslim country.
"This will be a good answer to the people who have constantly been predicting clash of civilization," Samuel Javed, a professional photographer in Karachi, told IOL.
He added that the construction of a church in a Muslim-dominated educational institution would give a sense of equality to the Christian community.
"The Christian community has been contributing to the progress and prosperity of Pakistan for the last 59 years, and we consider ourselves an integral part of the society," said a proud Javed.
"And the good thing is that the Muslim majority acclaims our role too."
According to the 2000 census, Christians make up three percent of the total 160 million population while Muslims account for 95 percent.
Almost 60 percent of the Christian population follows the Protestant Church, while the remaining 40 percent are Catholics.
They mostly reside in the northeastern province of Punjab and work as sanitary workers, paramedics or teachers.
The minority is represented in the government, Senate as well as national and provincial assemblies.
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