Source:  www.assistnews.net

Date:  2008-05-21

By Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service in Pakistan

MANDI BAHAWALDIN, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Pakistani Christians of a village in district Mandi Bahawaldin have been trying to wrest their church back after a Christian man sold it to an influential Muslim a couple of months ago by faking to be owner of the church land.

The church was built 1937 in village no. 2 in district Mandi Bahawaldin. A resident of Mandibahawaldin, Arshad Gill disclosed that Sami Khokhar, a Christian, sold it to a Muslim man by describing him as owner of the church land.

Gill told ANS that the local Christians filed a case in Police station civil lines to win the church back, saying the police investigation is still underway.

The sanitary workers staged a strike after the district coordination officer, Mandi Bahawaldin did not heed to their demand, he said.

ANS has learnt that the local Christians also staged a rally to press their demand. The participants of the rally raised slogans against the administration. The rally was dispersed after government officials assured them that they would help them get their church back.