Safeguarding Christian Burial Grounds: Urgent Action Needed Against Encroachments and Blocked Access Roads

LEAD Ministries Calls on State Institutions to Investigate Graveyard Insecurity, Protect Christian Burial Grounds, Ensure Lawful Access, and Promote Unity Among Christian Communities Across Pakistan

By Sardar Mushtaq Gill

Human Rights Defender and Lawyer

Founder and International Director of LEAD Ministries

LAHORE, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN — Serious concerns have been raised over reports of damage to Christian graveyards, alleged encroachments, obstruction of access roads, and difficulties faced by Christian families attempting to reach burial grounds in parts of Punjab and elsewhere in Pakistan. These concerns have prompted renewed calls for urgent government intervention, effective legal protection, and peaceful collective action to safeguard the dignity and religious rights of Christian communities.

The protection of burial grounds is a matter of human dignity, religious freedom, equal citizenship, and respect for the deceased. Christian families should be able to bury their loved ones, maintain their graves, and visit their resting places without fear, intimidation, hazardous conditions, or arbitrary restrictions on access.

LEAD Ministries has called upon the relevant state institutions, administrative authorities, land-management departments, and Auqaf authorities to investigate credible complaints, verify property records, address alleged encroachments, and ensure that lawful access routes to Christian graveyards are protected or established through appropriate legal procedures.

Dunyapur Graveyard: Reports of Damage Require Immediate Investigation

Reports from Dunyapur, District Lodhran, have raised serious concerns about the alleged nighttime extraction and sale of sand from a graveyard. According to these reports, large pits have developed within the burial ground, while additional complaints describe garbage dumping and the movement of vehicles, motorcycles, and carts through areas containing graves.

These allegations require prompt and impartial investigation by the relevant authorities. If the reported activities are substantiated, those responsible should be held accountable in accordance with the law.

The authorities should inspect the site, assess the extent of the reported damage, secure dangerous excavations, remove accumulated waste, prevent further deterioration, and ensure safe access for grieving families.

A graveyard is not ordinary land. It is a place of remembrance, mourning, prayer, and spiritual significance. Any unlawful activity that damages burial grounds or places visitors at risk must receive serious attention.

Blocked Access Roads: A Persistent Concern for Christian Communities

In rural Punjab and other parts of Pakistan, Christian communities have raised concerns about difficulties accessing burial grounds when roads are unavailable or blocked, or when access depends on permission from neighbouring landowners.

In some reported disputes, Christian graveyards are surrounded by privately owned or occupied land, leaving families struggling to reach the graves of their relatives. Complaints have alleged that access across adjoining properties has been refused, creating distress and uncertainty for affected communities.

Where individual landowners or occupants are accused of obstructing access, each case must be examined fairly and on the basis of evidence. The issue must not become a reason to blame an entire religious community. Responsibility should be established through impartial investigations, relevant land records, and applicable law.

Nevertheless, legitimate complaints of unlawful obstruction, discrimination, or misuse of local influence must not be ignored.

No family should be forced to depend indefinitely on personal favours merely to visit the resting place of a loved one when a lawful right of access exists or can be secured through appropriate legal procedures.

Government and Auqaf Authorities Urged to Clarify Land Ownership

Particular attention is needed where Christian burial grounds are situated on government-owned land or land administered by the relevant Auqaf authority.

The responsible institutions should verify land ownership, establish official boundaries, examine property records, and determine whether recognised access routes exist. Where access has been unlawfully obstructed or burial land has allegedly been occupied without legal authority, appropriate action should follow.

Where a graveyard lacks a suitable access road, the authorities should examine lawful and practical options for establishing a safe, permanent route.

The existence of a burial ground is not enough if the families it serves cannot reach it. Effective protection must include both the preservation of the site and practical arrangements for lawful access.

Phool Nagar Around 2002: The Importance of Unity and Collective Action

The experience of the Christian community in Phool Nagar, Tehsil Pattoki, District Kasur, around 2002, highlights the importance of unity and collective advocacy in addressing community concerns.

Zulfiqar Masih took a stand concerning Christian community access despite reported resistance involving local government officials and influential political figures. The matter ultimately reached a successful outcome with the support and solidarity of the wider Christian community.

This experience offers an important lesson for communities facing similar challenges today: unity, determination, peaceful advocacy, and sustained engagement with relevant authorities can help people pursue their legitimate rights.

Christian churches, pastors, community leaders, youth representatives, and civil society organisations are encouraged to work together, document their concerns, submit collective applications, and seek lasting solutions through lawful channels.

Preserving firsthand testimonies and available records of the Phool Nagar experience would also help ensure that its history and lessons are accurately documented for future generations.

A Call for Unity, Justice, and Protection of Christian Graveyards

Christian communities across Pakistan are urged to stand united in protecting their legitimate rights and safeguarding their burial grounds. Regardless of denominational differences or organisational affiliations, churches, community leaders, and civil society organisations should work together peacefully, document complaints, approach the relevant authorities, and seek legal assistance where necessary. Unity, cooperation, and persistent lawful advocacy can help affected families address blocked access roads, alleged encroachments, and threats to the dignity of their graveyards.

The relevant state institutions must investigate reports of damage and obstruction, verify land ownership and boundaries, protect vulnerable burial grounds, and ensure that lawful access routes are respected or established through appropriate legal procedures. The reported situation in Dunyapur and concerns raised by other Christian communities deserve impartial investigation and timely action. Effective monitoring, accessible complaint mechanisms, and consultation with affected families are essential to achieving lasting solutions.

Equal citizenship must include the right to bury loved ones according to one's faith, maintain burial grounds, and visit graves without unlawful obstruction or intimidation. Pakistan's constitutional protections for equality and religious freedom should be reflected in the everyday lives of Christian citizens. Access to a graveyard must not depend on political influence, financial resources, or personal relationships with powerful individuals.

The experience recalled from Phool Nagar around 2002 serves as a reminder of the importance of courage, solidarity, and collective action in pursuing legitimate rights. Christian communities should continue to advocate peacefully and persistently, while state institutions must fulfil their responsibilities under the law. A graveyard is a place of remembrance and dignity, not a privilege granted at another person's discretion. Protecting Christian burial grounds means upholding human dignity, religious freedom, equal citizenship, and the rule of law, ensuring that every family can visit the resting place of a loved one with peace and respect.

 

Raise Your Voice, Break the Silence: Demand Justice for Persecuted Christians Worldwide

Sardar Mushtaq Gill, Founder and International Advocacy Director of LEAD Ministries, Calls for Urgent International Action to Protect Vulnerable Christian Communities Following Deadly Attacks in Ethiopia

INTERNATIONAL — October 28, 2026 — Sardar Mushtaq Gill, Founder and International Advocacy Director of LEAD Ministries, is calling on the international community to take urgent action following reports of deadly attacks against Christians in Ethiopia and continuing concerns about religious persecution in Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan and other countries. He urges world leaders to ensure accountability for those responsible, strengthen protections for religious minorities and uphold the fundamental right to freedom of religion.

According to reports published in October 2026, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church reported that 60 people were killed in two attacks in Ethiopia’s Oromia region on October 20 and 24, respectively. More than 20 people were reportedly seriously injured, and homes were burned. In Jordan, reports have described a deadly shooting at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak during a funeral. Meanwhile, Christian communities in Nigeria continue to face attacks and abductions, while Christians in Pakistan experience concerns involving blasphemy-related accusations, mob violence, discrimination and reported forced marriages.

These incidents and continuing reports of persecution have heightened fear among Christian communities, raising concerns about personal safety, freedom of worship and their future. Gill emphasises that religious persecution is a serious human rights issue requiring sustained international attention and effective action.

He calls on governments, the United Nations, international human rights organisations and the global media to support survivors, investigate reported attacks independently and impartially, provide assistance to affected families and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable through fair legal proceedings.

Gill also stresses that defending persecuted Christians must not lead to hostility or collective blame against Muslims or any other religious community. Rather, it must uphold justice, equality, human dignity and the protection of fundamental freedoms for everyone.

Gill urges world leaders to break the silence, protect vulnerable communities and ensure that no one faces violence, discrimination or intimidation because of their faith. The time to act is now.

Ethiopia: Deadly Attacks on Christians Demand Justice

Reported deadly attacks against Ethiopian Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia’s Oromia region have raised serious concerns about civilian safety and religious freedom. According to reports published in October 2026, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church reported that 14 people were killed in Merti district on October 20 and another 46 in Shirka district on October 24. More than 20 people were reportedly seriously injured, and approximately 20 homes were burned, leaving families grieving and communities fearful of further violence and displacement.

Sardar Mushtaq Gill calls on Ethiopian authorities to protect vulnerable communities, investigate the attacks independently and impartially, and hold those responsible accountable through fair legal proceedings. The identities and motives of the perpetrators must be established through credible evidence.

Gill also urges the Ethiopian government to provide emergency assistance to affected families and strengthen security to prevent further attacks. He emphasises that uncertainty about the perpetrators must not become an excuse for inaction. The international community must demand accountability, support survivors and defend the rights and safety of Christians and all vulnerable communities in Ethiopia.

Sardar Mushtaq Gill Calls on World Leaders to Break the Silence

Gill maintains that religious persecution requires more than statements of sympathy after lives have been lost. It requires preventive action, effective protection, impartial investigations and meaningful accountability.

He urges governments and international institutions to ensure that attacks against Christians receive appropriate attention and that victims are not forgotten because their suffering receives insufficient international coverage.

Gill warns that the international community must not wait for another church to be attacked, another family to be displaced or another community to experience deadly violence before taking action.

He emphasises that defending persecuted Christians is not a call for hostility against people of other faiths. Rather, it is a demand for justice, equality, human dignity and the protection of fundamental freedoms. Every individual has the right to practise their religion peacefully without facing threats, violence or discrimination.

Gill calls on world leaders to recognise that protecting religious minorities is an essential responsibility of every government. Those who commit acts of violence must be investigated, while victims and witnesses must receive appropriate protection.

Pakistan: Christians Face Discrimination and Social Marginalisation

Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan continue to face serious challenges involving religious discrimination, social exclusion, economic hardship and unequal opportunities. Human rights organisations have reported concerns about blasphemy-related accusations, mob violence, attacks on churches and Christian homes, workplace discrimination and barriers to justice.

Many Christians from disadvantaged backgrounds experience limited access to secure employment, quality education and economic advancement. Social prejudice and marginalisation can reinforce poverty, restrict opportunities for younger generations and undermine the dignity and security of Christian families. Some Christians remain concentrated in low-paid and socially stigmatised occupations, while discrimination can limit their participation in broader social and economic life.

Blasphemy-related accusations can expose individuals and their families to intimidation, threats and violence, sometimes even before a court has examined the allegations. Concerns have also been raised about reported forced conversions and forced marriages involving Christian girls and women. Such cases require impartial investigations, effective safeguards and access to justice, particularly for children and other vulnerable individuals.

Gill calls on the Pakistani government to strengthen protections for religious minorities, prevent mob violence, investigate abuses impartially and ensure equal protection under the law. He stresses that Christians must not be treated as second-class citizens because of their faith. They deserve dignity, security, freedom of worship, equal opportunities and access to justice without discrimination or fear.

He further emphasises that religious freedom must be protected not only in law but also in everyday life. No person should be denied employment, education, safety or equal treatment because they belong to a religious minority.

Nigeria and the Middle East: Continuing Concerns About Christian Communities

Nigeria remains a major concern because of repeated attacks on civilians, abductions and persistent insecurity affecting Christian communities in several regions. Churches, villages and religious gatherings have been targeted in some incidents, while families have suffered killings, displacement and the destruction of homes and livelihoods. The causes of violence vary and may include armed extremism, criminal activity, communal disputes, land conflicts and failures of security and governance. Every incident must be investigated impartially, and authorities must protect civilians regardless of their religious or ethnic identity.

Across parts of the Middle East, Christians also face challenges in exercising their religious freedom, including discrimination, social marginalisation, restrictions on public worship and difficulties in establishing or maintaining churches. Depending on the country and local circumstances, some Christian communities may face restrictions on possessing or distributing Bibles, holding religious meetings, openly expressing their beliefs or sharing their faith. In conflict-affected areas, insecurity, threats and forced displacement have further endangered vulnerable Christian communities and contributed to the loss of homes, livelihoods and places of worship.

Gill stresses that the extent and nature of these challenges vary across countries and that allegations must be assessed using credible evidence. Nevertheless, he urges governments and international institutions to protect religious minorities, uphold freedom of religion and ensure that Christians can worship, gather peacefully and practise their faith without fear of persecution or intimidation.

The Human Cost of Religious Persecution

Religious persecution extends beyond killings and physical attacks to include intimidation, restrictions on worship, discrimination in employment and education, destruction of places of worship, threats against religious leaders and pressure to abandon one's beliefs. In some countries, restrictions may prevent Christians from accessing religious texts, establishing churches, gathering for worship or openly expressing their faith. Such limitations can isolate Christian communities and undermine their ability to practise and pass on their beliefs peacefully.

Families may lose loved ones, homes and livelihoods, while children face disrupted education and survivors endure lasting physical and psychological trauma. Displaced families often struggle to access shelter, food, healthcare and employment, with women and children particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

Gill warns that when perpetrators are not held accountable, victims may lose confidence in the justice system, and impunity can contribute to further violence. Tolerated discrimination can also become entrenched in social and institutional practices.

He emphasises that protecting religious freedom requires effective laws, fair enforcement, responsible leadership and a firm commitment to equality. Every person deserves dignity, security and the freedom to possess religious texts, gather peacefully for worship and practise their faith without fear of persecution.

An Urgent Appeal to Governments and International Institutions

Sardar Mushtaq Gill urges world leaders, national governments, the United Nations and international human rights organisations to translate concern into concrete action to protect Christians and other vulnerable religious minorities. He calls on governments to strengthen legal protections, investigate attacks impartially and hold perpetrators accountable. International institutions should monitor credible reports of persecution, document abuses and support efforts to protect civilians.

Gill urges diplomatic missions and international partners to raise concerns about religious freedom and advocate for equal protection under national laws. He also calls on humanitarian organisations to provide shelter, medical care, food and psychological support to survivors and displaced families.

Journalists and international media should report responsibly, verify allegations and ensure that the suffering of vulnerable communities is not overlooked. Gill stresses that religious leaders and civil society organisations also have an important role in challenging discrimination, rejecting incitement and promoting peaceful coexistence.

He calls on law-enforcement and judicial authorities to ensure that victims can report abuses safely, witnesses receive appropriate protection and investigations proceed without religious or political bias.

Gill emphasises that statements of concern must be followed by meaningful action, justice and effective protection. The international community must prioritise prevention rather than wait until further lives have been lost.

Defending Persecuted Christians Must Unite Communities

Gill emphasises that defending persecuted Christians must never become a justification for hatred or collective blame against Muslims or any other religious community. Responsibility for crimes belongs to those who commit or knowingly facilitate them, not to entire populations.

People of different faiths share a common interest in societies where violence is rejected, minorities are protected and the law applies equally to everyone. Christians, Muslims and members of other religious communities can work together to oppose extremism, challenge discrimination, defend freedom of conscience and support victims of violence.

Gill stresses that protecting persecuted Christians does not diminish the suffering of Muslims or members of other communities who experience persecution, discrimination or displacement. Rather, it upholds the universal principle that every human life has equal worth and that every individual deserves dignity, security and equal protection under the law.

He calls on the international community to condemn religiously motivated violence consistently, regardless of the identity of the victims or perpetrators. No community should be forgotten because its suffering receives limited attention. Religious freedom is a universal right, and defending it requires fairness, consistency and solidarity across religious and national boundaries.

Break the Silence. Demand Justice. Defend Religious Freedom.

The reported killings in Ethiopia and continuing concerns about discrimination against Christians in Pakistan, Nigeria and other countries demonstrate the urgent need for sustained international action. Gill warns that violence, intimidation and discrimination must never become accepted realities for vulnerable religious communities.

Gill calls on governments, international institutions, human rights organisations, journalists, religious leaders and people of conscience worldwide to raise their voices for those who cannot safely speak for themselves. He urges them to demand credible investigations, protect survivors, support displaced families and ensure accountability for those responsible for criminal acts.

He stresses that world leaders must strengthen civilian protection and ensure that freedom of religion is upheld without discrimination. Religious minorities must be able to worship peacefully, establish places of worship in accordance with applicable law, access their religious texts and express their beliefs without fear of persecution.

Gill emphasises that the world must not wait for another attack before acting. Prevention, accountability and protection must become priorities, not promises made after lives have already been lost.

Sardar Mushtaq Gill urges the international community to raise its voice for those who live in fear, break the silence surrounding their suffering and stand with persecuted Christians in Ethiopia, Pakistan, Nigeria and every country where religious freedom is threatened.

Demand justice for victims. Protect vulnerable communities. Defend freedom of religion and conscience.

Through this appeal, Gill reaffirm his commitment to advocating for religious freedom, equal rights and the protection of vulnerable communities. He calls on world leaders to act decisively and ensure that no individual or community is abandoned because of their faith.

No one should face persecution because of their religious beliefs. No family should be left without protection or justice. The time to act is now.

Okara Church Incident Demands Answers: Christian Worshippers Deserve Protection, Not Intimidation

Sardar Mushtaq Gill, human rights defender and lawyer, calls on the Government of Punjab and DPO Okara to ensure an impartial investigation into the reported disruption of Christian worship at Nazareth Town Church, Parish, Okara Cantt. He stresses that allegations of violence against worshippers must not be trivialised and urges stronger protection of religious freedom, police accountability, and equal rights for Pakistan’s Christian community.

By Sardar Mushtaq Gill, Human Rights Defender and Lawyer

OKARA, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN — The reported disruption of a Christian worship service at Nazareth Town Church, Parish, Okara Cantt, has raised serious concerns about the protection of religious freedom and the responsibility of law enforcement authorities to safeguard religious minorities in Pakistan.

According to information received, unidentified individuals allegedly disrupted a worship service held in honour of Majdah Maryam. The situation reportedly escalated into a confrontation, leaving several people injured, including the church preacher, Bau Sahib.

The police were reportedly alerted through Emergency Helpline 15. However, concerns have been raised over the reported decision to treat the incident as a minor altercation and take several individuals, including the preacher, to the police station.

The incident highlights the importance of ensuring that allegations involving violence during religious worship are investigated impartially and thoroughly rather than dismissed prematurely.

Questions Over Police Response

Of particular concern is the allegation that the police had been informed about the planned prayer ceremony approximately one week in advance and that a security request had been submitted. Despite this advance notification, the congregation reportedly did not receive the requested security arrangements.

If confirmed, these circumstances warrant a clear explanation from the relevant authorities.

Questions must be answered about how the security request was handled, whether the reported injuries were adequately assessed, and what measures were taken to protect the congregation following the confrontation.

Law enforcement agencies have a fundamental responsibility to protect citizens, investigate allegations of violence, and ensure that complaints are handled fairly, regardless of the religious identity of those involved.

An impartial investigation should establish the facts, hear witnesses, examine the available evidence, and determine whether any unlawful conduct or procedural failures occurred.

Religious Freedom Must Not Be Compromised

Pakistan’s Christian community is entitled to practise its faith, conduct religious ceremonies, and gather for worship without fear of intimidation, harassment, or unlawful interference.

Concerns have increasingly been expressed by members of the Christian community about religious intolerance, threats, and intimidation affecting their sense of security. Against this background, reports of interference with Christian worship must be treated with appropriate seriousness.

Concerns have also been raised about alleged interference by Islamist elements in the religious affairs of Christians. Any allegations of unlawful conduct should be investigated on the basis of credible evidence, without collective blame or assumptions about religious identity.

Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right. No individual or group should be permitted to use threats, intimidation, or violence to prevent others from peacefully practising their faith.

A Call for Government Action and Accountability

The Government of Punjab and the District Police Officer (DPO) Okara are urged to take immediate notice of the reported incident and ensure a transparent and impartial investigation.

The authorities should examine the alleged assault, establish the nature of the reported injuries, review the police response, and investigate why the congregation reportedly did not receive the security requested in advance.

If the investigation establishes that any individual committed an offence or that official responsibilities were neglected, appropriate action should be taken in accordance with the law.

The authorities should also implement appropriate security measures to protect the church and its congregation against further intimidation and to ensure that Christians can attend worship services safely.

Accountability is essential to maintaining public confidence in law enforcement institutions. Every complaint deserves a fair assessment, and every citizen is entitled to equal protection under the law.

Christians Deserve Justice, Dignity, and Equal Protection

The reported incident in Okara raises concerns that extend beyond a single congregation. For religious minorities, the ability to worship freely is inseparable from the assurance that their safety will be protected and their complaints taken seriously.

When allegations of violence arise at a place of worship, describing the incident as a minor dispute before establishing the facts risks leaving important questions unanswered and undermining confidence in the justice system.

The Christian community in Pakistan does not seek special privileges. It seeks equal citizenship, security, dignity, and the effective protection of fundamental rights.

The Government of Punjab and the police authorities must ensure that the reported incident receives the attention it deserves. Justice must be pursued impartially, and anyone found responsible for unlawful conduct must be held accountable through due process.

Religious freedom must not be trivialised. Every Christian has the right to worship peacefully, without fear of violence or intimidation. Protecting this right is a responsibility of the state and an essential requirement of justice, equality, and the rule of law.