Christians in Pakistan are protesting against Punjab state government's decision to raze four churches which stand in the way of a planned Metro train project.
Earlier this week, Christians assembled in front of Lahore High Court, and flashed signs which said "We want equal rights," and "We strongly condemn Punjab government's decision to grab church property," according to local media reports.
The Punjab government wants to acquire lands that house St. Andrew's Church, Naulakha Church, Cathedral Church, and Bohar Wala Church in Lahore.
"We are aware that just to save some government buildings the Government has changed its original plans. This is a controversial project and it faces a lot of opposition," said Nasir Saeed, Director of CLAAS-UK (Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement), a Pakistani Christian rights group.
The Cathedral in Lahore has also faced resistance from authorities before.
The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) wanted to build a sewage pumping station on the grounds of covenant school owned by the church, which is just adjacent to the Cathedral Church of Resurrection.
The Cathedral congregation filed a lawsuit at the Lahore High Court, which ordered the LDA to stop efforts to acquire the land.
Christians were targeted in the city about a month ago when a suicide bombing attack killed over 70 people and injured more than 340 injured at a recreational park where they had gathered to celebrate Easter.
"The Christians who are still in mourning after the Easter Sunday attack and are still trying to deal with that trauma, are now faced with the issue of the demolition of their four historic churches in Lahore, the capital of Punjab, the province where Christians suffer most," Saeed said.
"A few years ago the present government tried to grab the Gosha E Aman church property in Lahore - again at a prime location - near the governor house but failed, and now it wants four churches. This will never be acceptable by the Christians," he continued.
