PESHAWAR: Bishop Humphrey Sarfraz Peter of the Diocese of Peshawar on Saturday alleged that the provincial administration and police had facilitated a group in taking control of the diocese’s offices and religious premises despite a court injunction.

Addressing a presser at the Peshawar Press Club along with senior lawyer Moazam Butt, Bishop Peter alleged that the assistant commissioner of Peshawar cantonment area, accompanied by a heavy contingent of police, had broken the locks of the Diocese of Peshawar offices and St John’s Cathedral Church and allowed a group “brought in from Raiwind and Sialkot” to occupy the premises.

He claimed that CCTV cameras installed at the diocesan offices were damaged and the recording equipment was seized. He said more than two weeks had passed since an application was submitted for registration of an FIR, but no case had yet been registered.

“Though the court order was still there, the locks of the diocese were broken and another group was allowed to enter the premises,” he claimed.

Warns if FIR not registered, street protests to be staged

The bishop said the Christian community was upset by the “desecration” of their sacred place and the destruction of its infrastructure. He alleged that certain influential politicians and members of a religious political party backed the group.

Bishop Peter said the Diocese of Peshawar was responsible for supervising and protecting Christian properties belonging to the Lahore Diocesan Trust Association through its authorised representatives and that only the trust had the legal authority to determine who could use its properties.

The bishop claimed that two major dioceses, Peshawar and Lahore, had separated from the Church of Pakistan because of what he termed unconstitutional and illegal actions by its present leadership. He said that bringing individuals from other areas and presenting them as representatives of the entire Church of Pakistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was unacceptable.

Bishop Peter also accused police of raiding the residence of Shahid Younas, a resident of Mardan, whom, he said, the Diocese of Peshawar had selected as the bishop for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He alleged that judicial orders had been disregarded and political influence was being used in religious affairs. He demanded of the provincial government to ensure that no outside group is forcibly installed in diocesan properties.

The bishop urged the governor, the chief minister, commander of Peshawar Corps, Peshawar High Court chief justice, chief secretary and inspector general of police to take necessary action. He demanded registration of FIR over the breaking of locks in churches and diocesan offices, legal action against those responsible for damaging locks, CCTV cameras and recording equipment and an end to the alleged harassment of priests and staff.

Mr Peter also called for an impartial investigation by police officers who had no links with either side.

He warned that if the FIR was not registered, the Christian community would set up hunger strike camps in major cities of the province and stage street protests against the provincial government.

On the occasion, lawyer Moazam Butt said no government department or district administration had the authority to interfere in the religious affairs of any community.

He flayed the district administration and police over “illegal” actions, which, he said, could amount to contempt of court.

“The Christian community should be provided protection and the situation should not be allowed to deteriorate,” he said, calling for an impartial and independent investigation into the incident.

Mr Butt said the Constitution didn’t permit anyone to interfere in another person’s religious affairs or desecrate a place of worship. He urged authorities to ensure that the Christian community and its religious properties in the province are protected according to the law.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2026