Daily Times

The Christian community has urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to give back the Edwardes College Peshawar to the Christians on urgent basis, warning of protests if their demand is not accepted.

Addressing a press conference at Lahore Press Club, the bishops and MPA from the minority community urged the prime minister to take stern action against the KP government over its ‘anti-minority policies’. Speaking on the occasion, former provincial minister for minorities and human rights Khalil Tahir Sandhu announced to challenge the policy of KP government in the court. He was of the view that the KP government has taken over the control of Edwardes College without listening to the Christian community which has an old association with the historic institution.

The top representatives of Christian community including Bishop Alexander John Malik, Bishop Sebastian Shaw, Rev Dr Majeed, Father James, Bishop Ibraham Daniel, Peter Jackob, MPA Khalil Tahir Sandhu and Weda Javaid were present on the occasion. The participants expressed severe concerns over the administrative control of Edwardes College by the KP government. They were of the view that since the prime minister has himself admitted that the Edwardes College belongs to the Christian community, he should take personal interest to resolve the matter. “These educational institutions are serving the people of Pakistan for almost 150 years and therefore their administrative status must not be changed,” they added.

They said that all the Christian associations are perturbed over this act of the KP government and they will take to the streets if this college isn’t handed over to them. “The Edwardes College is not the property of any single church or the government as it belongs to every Christian of the country,” they said.

Meanwhile, a resolution was also submitted in Punjab Assembly on Tuesday against the act of KP government to take over the control of the historic college. “The Edwardes College Peshawar was in the control of Peshawar Church since 1900 but the KP government has taken over its control. All the Christian community living in Pakistan and around the globe is perturbed over this illegal act of the KP government,” said MPA Khalil Tahir Sandhu in his resolution. He was of the view that the constitution of Pakistan and the directions of the Supreme Court bar any government to take control of any property or institution falling in the jurisdiction of the church. “This House demands from the federal government to give back the Edwardes College to the church to remove the sense of lack of protection to the Christian community living in Pakistan,” the resolution concluded.