Report of forced eviction of peaceful Christian villagers and looting of their properties by the armed men
Mr.Morris Johns has reported to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Pakistan Minorities how 100 Pakistan Christian villagers have been forced out of their homes. Christians have been living in the village Mozang Nawababad, Tehsil Sharqpur, District Sheikhupura, Punjab, for over 70 years. On 07-06-2020, at around 10 O’clock in the morning, they were suddenly invaded by about 10 armed criminals who forcibly entered their homes and looted money, goods and livestock, possessions carefully built over many years.
After looting the houses, the criminals evicted about 100 poor Christians from their homes, and took possession of their homes. They threatened them with dire consequences and said if they took any legal action they would kill them all.
On 12-07-2020, 3 Christian women went to their village to find out the conditions of their homes, but the influential land grabbers indiscriminately opened fire on these women. They ran for their lives and called the police. These innocent slum women were put in a police vehicle and taken to Sharqpur police station and kept there in illegal custody till about 9 pm.
Despite repeated requests to the local police, no action has been taken against the culprits who fired on the women till date.
A protest was held against this atrocity in front of Lahore Press Club on 28-08-2020,to protest against this injustice. As a result, finally the police agreed to register a case against the culprits which was registered on 29-08-2020, the case no. 523/20. But till today no culprits has been arrested; nor looted household items, church belongings and livestock recovered yet. No further steps have been taken to resettle these Christians in their homes.
On 05-10-2020, Additional Home Secretary Punjab was given the application numbered SO(CC)5-4/2020, but still no action has been taken against the culprits to date.
The innocent evicted villagers have been living in very poor conditions often sharing very limited accommodation and resources with their equally poor relatives. It is imperative that the criminals involved in this crime, should be arrested; and the looted goods and livestock should be recovered from them and 100 Christian villagers should be immediately resettled in their homes.
