A 10-foot wooden cross erected at the site of an under-construction church was recently set ablaze allegedly by land grabbers eyeing the piece of land in Qayyumabad.
The land grabbers have warned the site in charge, George Masih, to withdraw the FIR he has lodged over the burning of the cross, or get implicated in a false blasphemy case.
“The land grabbers are not just sending me death threats but also warning me of falsely charging me with blasphemy if I don’t take back the case against them. I’m mentally disturbed and don’t know what to do. In these times, anyone can file a false case against anyone, and if I am charged, I know I can never prove my innocence. And no one will come to my help.”
The man, whose lips quivered and beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he spoke of his apprehensions, is scared to go near the site of the under-construction church, and has restricted his activities to the four walls of his house.
“On January 3 this year, I was appointed as a coordinator by Father Thomas Gulfam of the Korangi parish to oversee the construction work on Plot No B-690, Block-A, Qayyumabad. For this purpose, we set up a wooden cross at the site. However, on February 7, around eight armed men burnt the cross in the middle of the night,” said Masih.
A new cross was put up at the barren 1,280 yards of land. But this nearly ended up being reduced to ashes.
“Following the cross-burning incident, a week later the men came back again and had doused the new cross with petrol when they were spotted by locals and were driven away,” said president of the Churches Save Property Welfare Association, Chauhdry Patras, at his office situated just steps away from the site of the church.
Explaining the history of the land, Patras said that the site came under the St Francis Xavier Church and belonged to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese Karachi. He said that there were four churches in the area, but they were too small for the locality where 400 to 500 Christian families were living.
On the importance of the cross, he said, “The cross, which is commonly worn around necks and is present at every Christian home and worship place, is the first and most important symbol of Christianity. It is our identity. On this very cross, Jesus Christ sacrificed his life for us, and it is the sign which tells others that we belong to the Christian community.”
Masih has registered an FIR (No 338/2011) under sections 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class), 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offense committed in prosecution of common object), and 337 H ii (punishment for hurt by rash or negligent act) against the land grabbers.
Initially, the police were reluctant to file a case, and it was only through a court order that a case was finally registered at the Korangi Industrial Area police station. The suspects who Masih has nominated have already applied for pre-arrest bail.
“If the men are innocent, then why have they applied for pre-arrest bail? I appeal to the high-ups to provide me with security so that I do not become a victim of their false cases and accusations,” Masih pleaded.
“Like other religions, ours also preaches peace and tolerance. However, we are becoming victims of extremism and no one raises voice when our religious books, houses of worship and symbols are desecrated. Today if I’m being threatened, it is because I registered a case against those who destroyed the symbol of our religious identity.” However, he is determined not to withdraw the case against land grabbers.

japan is fighting on two fronts

Who is NEXT???????????

ISLAMABAD: Gunmen shot and killed Pakistan’s government minister for religious minorities on Wednesday, the latest attack on a high-profile Pakistani figure who had urged reforming harsh blasphemy laws that impose the death penalty for insulting Islam.
Shahbaz Bhatti was on his way to work in Islamabad when unknown gunmen riddled his car with bullets, police officer Mohmmad Iqbal said. The minister arrived dead at Shifa Hospital and his driver was also wounded badly, hospital spokesman Asmatullah Qureshi said.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the killing, saying the minister had been “punished” for being a blasphemer.
Witnesses said the attackers scattered leaflets signed by “The Qaeda and the Taliban of Punjab” at the attack scene, which read: “This is the punishment of this cursed man.”
Taliban militants had called for Bhatti’s death because of his attempts to amend theblasphemy law.
“He was a blasphemer like Salman Taseer,” spokesman Sajjad Mohmand said by telephone from an undisclosed location.

View of pamphlet, attributed to Al-Qaida and TTP, was found at the site where Shahbaz Bhatti was gunned down in Islamabad.-APP photo

Gulam Rahim was coming from a nearby market when he saw Bhatti’s car drive out of his house. Three men standing nearby with guns suddenly began firing at the vehicle, a dark-colored Toyota.
Two of the men opened the door and tried to pull Bhatti out, Rahim said, while a third man fired his Kalashnikov rifle repeatedly into the car. The three gunmen then sped away in a white Suzuki Mehran car, said Rahim who took shelter behind a tree.
Pakistani TV channels showed Bhatti’s vehicle afterward, its windows shattered with bullet holes all over. It was not immediately clear why Bhatti, a member of the ruling Pakistani People’s Party, did not have bodyguards with him.
After Salman Taseer’s assassination, Bhatti said he was also receiving death threats, telling AFP that he was “the highest target right now”.
But he had insisted that he would work as usual.
“I’m not talking about special security arrangements. We need to stand against these forces of terrorism because they’re terrorising the country,” Bhatti said at the time.
“I cannot trust on security…. I believe that protection can come only from heaven, so these bodyguards can’t save you.”
Pakistani government leaders condemned the attack.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani visited the hospital and offered condolences to Bhatti’s grieving relatives.
“Such acts will not deter the government’s resolve to fight terrorism and extremism,” he said, adding that the killers would not go unpunished.
“This is concerted campaign to slaughter every liberal, progressive and humanist voice in Pakistan,” said Farahnaz Ispahani, an aide to President Asif Ali Zardari. “The time has come for the federal government and provincial governments to speak out and to take a strong stand against these murderers to save the very essence of Pakistan.”
Bhatti’s friend Robinson Asghar said the slain minister had received threats following the death of the Punjab governor. Asghar said he had asked Bhatti to leave Pakistan for a while because of the threats, but that Bhatti had refused.
Pakistan’s information minister, Firdous Ashiq Awan, said Bhatti had played a key role in promoting interfaith harmony, and he was a great asset.
“We are sad over his tragic death,” she said, adding that the government would investigate why he did not have a security escort.

CSPWA fixed another Holy Cross on the plot very next day.

This is an announcement to inform all the Christians of Pakistan that yesterday night some unknown peoples burnt The Holy Cross that was installed in a plot that was alloted for St. Francis Xavier Church of Roman Catholic Sect at the town of Qayyumabad Karachi, it is not a matter of any sect or Church it's an straight attack on the respect of The Holy Cross. C.S.P.W.A will protest against this disrespectful act today at 16:00 all the media channels will be present there. All the Christians are requested to participate in this protest without any prejudice for the sake of The Holy Cross.
Regards
A.P Bhatti     

Violence Against Christianity

I  Ch. Patras President of CHRUCHES SAVE PROPERTY WELFARE ASSOCIATION® PAKISTAN (C.S.P.W.A®) writing to inform you that there is a plot located at the “A” commercial Area in town of Qayyumabad Karachi that is particularly allotted for The Church building, the number of this plot is 620-A and there is a Holy Cross collocated in this plot which is the most Holy sign for the Christians, but at the night of 07^th February 2011 some unknown people burnt The Holy Cross.

 

This act is really disrespectful against our religious feelings, It often happened that some unknown people tried to pluck The Holy Cross from its place and our community tolerated this for many times, but this time it is not possible for us to tolerate this disrespect against The Holy Cross.

We and our religious leaders strongly protest against this act. We strongly demand the Government to take strict and serious action against the people who did this disrespectful act according to the written law of the Country.

prya for Chief Justis

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One of the so-called contradictions that we hear brought up concerns the disagreement between the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of John as to the time of the crucifixion of Jesus.

Mark 15:25 (KJV) states, “and it was the third hour, and they crucified him,” while in John 19:14 (KJV) we read, “And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!”

This does indeed present a difficulty, since Mark has Jesus being crucified at the third hour, or nine o’clock in the morning, according to Jewish reckoning, while John places Jesus before Pontius Pilate at about the sixth hour, or noon.

Many say this discrepancy is impossible to reconcile, while others say the difference between the two is a result of a mistake early in the copying process. Neither of these two views is plausible or acceptable.

There are two possible solutions which carry reasonable weight. One solution centers on the word “about” in John’s statement of the time. He reveals that it was not exactly the sixth hour, but only about this time.

Also, Mark’s account does not force us to believe that it was at exactly 9 a.m. when Jesus was put on the cross. This can be observed by understanding the way the New Testament calculates time.

The night was divided into four watches, each consisting of three hours (see Mark 13:35), and the day was to some extent likewise divided into periods. In light of this, we can imagine that Mark’s statement about the “third hour” simply meant that Jesus was crucified sometime during the third hour (between nine o’clock and noon), while John’s statement that the trial ended about noon can mean before noon.

Thus, if the crucifixion took place between nine o’clock and noon, Mark could have placed it at the earlier period (nine o’clock) and John at the later period (noon) without there being any discrepancy.

“If the crucifixion took place midway between nine and twelve o’clock, it was quite natural that one observer should refer it to the former, while another referred it to the latter hour.

“The height of the sun in the sky was the index of the time of the day; while it was easy to know whether it was before or after midday, or whether the sun was more or less than halfway between the zenith and the horizon, finer distinctions of time were not recognized without consulting the sun dials, which were not everywhere at hand” (The Expositor’s Greek New Testament, commenting on John 19:14).

Protest in the fever of Israel

United Church

Christian graveyard Qayyumabbad Karachi

The fundamental aims and objects of "Churches Save Property Welfare Association" are to protect all the Christian community properties , churches , graveyards , religious  books , historical places , antiques and also protect Christian creed and universal fundamental religious rights and demands to solve each and every problem of Christian community without any distinguish or difference according to the law of the land .

Our Association is working since 2005 we have a graveyard located in Qayyumabbad a town of Karachi city.This graveyard is serving more then 15000 families from different towns of Karachi city . and most of them are hardly managing their budget . Association is providing casscets , cofens and tiles to the community and paying salaries to the graveyard staff .it is not possible  for Association to maintain the graveyard by our self. 

Qayyumabbad Christian graveyard is serving Christian community since 10 years this graveyard is such in bad condition and have many problems like boundary wall , light , water , servant quarters ,undertaker and watchman. Churches Save Property Welfare Association is taking responsibility  to renovate ant take care of this Christian graveyard in the favor of humanity and faith. we request all of you for pray for us.

Renovation of qayyumabbad graveyard.

President of (  C.S.P.W.A ) Mr. Chuhdary Patras announcing the renovation project of Qayyumabbad graveyard.

why???????????????

Stop killing Christians in Pakistan

They burned us alive.....

St. Francis Xavier Church

St. Francis Xavier Church was demolished in 1996 by Defence Housing Authority.

Later on, President of Churches Save Property Welfare Association Mr. Ch. Patras Bhatti and General Secretary Kamran Masih got information about the demolished Church and came to know that the plot of the Church was leased in the name of Church. After this our Association Members started working on this and Mr. Ch. Patras, the President of C.S.P.W.A fixed the Holy Cross on the plot on 25th Dec 2005.

When D.H.A came to know that C.S.P.W.A fixed a holy cross on the plot of St. Francis Xavier Church then they came to the spot with a police van and broke the holy Cross and trampled it down under their feet. Some kids saw all this and informed Mr. Patras and Kamran. They both visited that place immediately along with the other members of the Association to see the scene which was going on. They all saw the holy Cross in the D.H.A police van. Mr. Patras had started argument with them and also used harsh words with them. While they were using harsh words with Mr. Patras, the General Secretary Kamran started taking photos which are a great proof against what they did with the Holy Cross. A Crowd was gathered around the van and Mr. Patras got the Cross down the police van and fixed it again on the plot of the demolished Church again.

The Plots were leased in the name of the Church but D.H.A was illegally capturing the plot. After this, D.H.A started threatening Mr. Patras. When D.H.A start threatening us again and again. Then we called a meeting of C.S.P.W.A and called all members all C.S.P.W.A and General Secretary talked about the matter to our Organization and said that we need to take a stand against the D.H.A because they are illegally capturing the plot of the St. Francis Xavier Church but even after these threats, the Association C.S.P.W.A took stand against D.H.A and nobody was afraid of D.H.A threatening then our organization filed a case against them which is (Case no. 756/2007) in High Court. Then we struggled a lot till 2005 to 2010. It was very difficult to win the case from D.H.A. then the D.H.A requested to our organization that please leave these Churches plots and we will give you a property in the D.H.A area but our organization refused to take the D.H.A property and said to the D.H.A that God has given us each and everything we need. We don't want any property from you we just want you to leave and stop troubling us. Then by the grace and mercy of God Our Association we won the case and handed over the plots of the Demolished Church to the Father of Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Joseph Paul who is the President, Patron and Rector of St. Patrick's High School and to the Father Rev. Fr. Thomas Gulfam who is the Father of the Parish Priest of St. James Parish. Then the both fathers gave us an appreciate letters and said that we are grateful to your organization whole hearted for saving St. Francis Xavier Church plots from Clutches of Land Mafia and others. You had really looked after our Church plots and done a wonderful thing for us. Thanking and appreciating your great efforts. God bless you and you're Family.

Our Association Churches Save Property Welfare Association did all this under there own personal help we did not get any kind of support neither by the fathers nor by any other way.

We did all this work and have been doing such kinds of work without any kind of moral help or financial support. We are just doing this work with the help of God. May God bless you all Amen.

Pastor Naveed Malik

St. Mary's Catholic Church and Church of Pakistan were burnt in 2006 in Sukkar,Sindh Pakistan

St. Mary's Catholic Church and Church of Pakistan were burnt in 2006 in Sukkar,Sindh Pakistan

St. Mary's Catholic Church and Church of Pakistan were burnt in 2006 in Sukkar. Mr. Ch. Patrus, the president of C.S.P.W.A and Kamran Masih the General Secretary of C.S.P.W.A visited the burnt Churches and witnessed the worst Condition of the Churches and came to know that one hundred and fifty years old record has also been burnt into ashes.

We asked Father Yaqoob Gill who is the Father of St. Mary's Catholic Church that Father we want to help you but Father said No thanks I can do it myself. I don't need any kind of help from you Father also said that I can handle this case and I have high resources and contacts are all over Pakistan in the Government.

Then Father Yaqoob Gill who is the Father of St. Mary Catholic Church start using his personal high resources but could not succeed in his mission. He tired and struggled a lot for at least three years but finally nothing happened.

Even after the three years of this mishap, neither the Government not anybody else did anything.

Later on, one Member of our Association David Dennis who is president of Sukkar Sindh Division had a meeting with Father Yaqoob Gill. On the request of father Yaqoob Gill, David Contacted Mr. Ch. Patras, the president of C.S.P.W.A asked him to do something on this regard.

Then Mr. Patras said to Father Yaqoob Gill that after three years you want our help? but now it's too late but I will try my best and will try to solve this problem and make it possible.

Mr. Patrus asked Father Yaqoob to write a letter on behalf of Churches Save Property Welfare Association to help them out.

After receiving the letter, Mr. Patras had Meeting with the member Inspection Team Government of Sindh and came to know that the burnt Churches have been rebuilt only on paper but nothing was done like that. Infact. Mr. Patras met with one Member of inspection team Waqas Malik who is Advisor of Chief Minister and him Consoled Mr. Patras and said he never takes bribe nor he let others take it. He further said that Mosque and Church are equal to him.

Later on Mr. Waqas Malik ordered inquiry Team into the matter. On inquiries, it was revealed that Sindh Government had allowed Seventy one lacks.(Rs.71, 00, 000) for reconstruction of the burnt Churches and the amount was misused and was not use in the Construction of Churches.

Then the President Mr. Patras and the Vice President Mr. Adeel Patras Bhatti personally visited and had a meeting with the Advisor of Chief Minister. Then he said that Government of Sindh gave Seventy one lacks. (Rs.71, 00, 000) for the reconstruction of the burnt Churches and the amount was misused and was not use in the Construction of Churches.

Then our organization encouraged and forced the Advisor of the Chief .Minister that please visit our Churches in sukkar and rebuilt our Churches we shall be we very thankful to you. Then he said to us I will visit sukhar with you and I want to see that what really happened there. Then the President Mr. Patras and the Vice President Mr. Adeel Patras Bhatti visited with the Advisor of C.M in Sukkar and met Father Yaqoob Gill who is the Father of St. Mary Catholic Church and we all also visited Church of Pakistan and then we came to know that no work was done with the money given by the Government. Then the President of C.S.P.W.A said to the Advisor of Chief Minister have seen from there own eyes that nothing had happened with the money given by the Government then the Advisor of the Member Inspection Team Waqas Malik said that I will surely help you and I will talk about this matter to the Chief Minister of Sindh.

Our Association drew the attention of the Government to the reconstruction of the both Churches and got the budget given for the Churches again and gave the amount of Seventy one lacks. (71, 00, 000) back to the Father yaqoob Gill. Then Father start rebuilding the Churches and made so much beautiful Churches himself. Then the Father gave us an appreciation letter to our Organization and also gifted us the Video C.D of rebuilt Churches. Then the all members of C.S.P.W.A Team visited the burnt Churches in Sukkar and Father thanked us a lot and prayed for us that we keep on doing these works and save as much Churches we can.

Our Association did all this work and have been doing such kinds of work without any kind of moral help or financial support. We are just doing this work with the help of God. May God bless you all Amen.

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

United Church of Christ Was illegally taken into possession in 1993 by a woman name Aisha Lizmani. Pastor of the Church, Rev. Akram John had failed to save the Church for last 12 years.

Rev. Akram John who is also the pastor of our area visited the head office of C.S.P.W.A. on 10th Dec, 2005 and had meeting with the president of our Association, Mr. Ch. Patras. During the meeting, he told him about all the details about the Church and requested Mr. Patras to save the Church since he himself have been completely failed to do any thing in this matter.

Mr. Patras assured the Pastor that Christmas Celebrations would be held in the Church in the same year (2005) as there had been neither regular Church Meeting nor Celebrations for a long time.

Of course this was an astonishing moment for the Rev. Pastor Akram as he knew that the women Aisha lizmani was doing some Construction work in the Church and never allowed any sort of worship there.

Then our Association started working on this case. The Association protested in front of Karachi Press Club, took out rallies and took this matter on media. Then Aisha Lizmati used her Contacts and resources to maintain her illegal possession on the Church but she failed to do so. She said she had bought the plot of the Church from a person name Asharf.

Then she offered us four lacks. (4, 00, 000) to us and said that please take this money and stop the protest against this plot. But Mr. Patras refused to take the amount from her and said this is the property of Church and I don't rob God or his house.

Rev. Pastor Akram John had already told Mr. Patras that case of the Church plot (Case no.129/2005) is already in the court. Still she bought the Controversial plot.

She said she had links with high officials and she would Construct School on the Church plot and then she started threatening us. But our organizations took a stand against her and face it; we struggled a lot, to save the property of the Church as our work is to save Church properties. But by the grace and mercy of God. Our Association handed over the Church to Pastor Akram John on 24th Dec 2005 and arranged Christmas Celebrations in the United Church of Christ which is a Clear Sign that God is with us and he is blessing us and our Association.

Rev. Pastor Akram John thanked Mr. Patras and issued a letter of appreciation. We did not take any kind of help from the Rev. Pastor Akram John.

Our Association did all this work and have been doing such kinds of work without any kind of moral help or financial support. We are just doing this work with the name of God. May God bless you all Amen. And if you people also need any kind of help please contact us or our organization. 

Aim and Objects

AIMS AND OBJECTS

(1) We have established CHURCHES SAVE PROPERTY WELFARE ASSOCIATION in Karachi (Pakistan) to promote and provide all the safety to our all the churches, throughout the Pakistan.

(2) CHURCHES SAVE PROPERTY WELFARE ASSOCIATION aim is provided well established welfare for Christian graveyards.

(3) To establish every safety and betterment to the best environment of life to the Christian community.

(4) To establish every safety and betterment to the best environment of life to the Christian community.

(5) To provide best Housing project facility to the Christian Society.

(6) To help those are jobless for their job for the best welfare of Christian community.

(7) To assist and provide all the best help for the Marriage problems for Christian Welfare and Bright future.

(8) To build up old age houses for our old age elders for their peaceful and pleasure life.

(9) To build up educational institutions, school, college for better and higher Education according to the modern age life and style.

(10) To establish funds for those are need such funds just to solve their life problems.

(11) To provide best religious education to our children according to their age and time.

(12) To establish and our up best houses for the orphan and shelties children just for their happy and nice life.

(13) To establish and provide best medical facilities to every children specially to poor and penniless persons.

(14) To provide monthly funds for educational purpose for those are needs persons.

(15) To provide monthly funds for education purpose for those are needy persons.

(16) To provide all the facilities for coffin, coffin box, boxes for graveyards and funeral facilities to our Christian Community.

(17) To provide all the facilities regarding immigration problems in Pakistan and all over the world for best welfare of Christian.

(18) To provide all the Assistajnce and facilities those are in jail custody or Police custody.

(19) To establish modernization Press and Publication facilities for the best welfare and latest information to the Christian society.

(20) To start and establish electronic media and channel for all over the world.

(21) To provide latest and alteramod information technical institution and education for all over the world.

(22) To provide best and age wise education for the Pasters for their religious aims and purpose.

(23) To build up museum bialys antiques houses just to protect to our religious and historical assists.

(24) To conduct local, national, international conferences, seminars, lectures, literatures for best information and latest education for new age children for best welfare of Christian community.

(25) To provide human welfare and human rights to all over the world for christen welfare.

The " Churches Save Property Welfare Association (Regd)" has worked out on the following Christian Religious Issues, just to protect Christian's Religion and Human life with the slogan that Disappointment and Hopeless is not peaceful, pleasure, religious life of Christianity.