Father George Ibrahim shot dead at the Mitchell's Fruit Farms in Okara
05-7-2003
OKARA, July 5: Half a dozen assailants early Saturday shot dead a 39-year-old Roman Catholic priest in his home here.
Father George Ibrahim of the Catholic Church at the Mitchell's Fruit Farms had been sleeping at the time of the incident after returning from the DHQ Hospital in Okara around midnight. He had visited the hospital to inquire about the health of a convalescing member of his congregation.
The news of the priest's murder spread like wildfire, prompting Christians to gather at the scene of the crime.
Punjab IGP Syed Masud Ahmad Shah arrived at Renala Khurd to supervise investigation.
Ruling out terrorism and dacoity as motives for the murder, the police had initially attributed it to a dispute between two factions of the Christian community, saying a clash in which some people had been injured a few days ago might have led to Father Ibrahim's murder. However, the Christians protest had forced the police to include sections of dacoity and terrorism in the FIR.
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Protest drive if priest's killers not held by 18th
09-7-2003
LAHORE, July 9: Minorities leaders have threatened a protest drive if the government does not immediately arrest and prosecute the people who had killed a Catholic priest in Renala Khurd, Okara, a few days ago.
The first protest demonstration will be held in Renala Khurd on July 18 where future line of action will be announced if the culprits were not arrested by that time.
This was stated by Archbishop of Lahore Dr Lawrence J. Saldanha, All Pakistan Minorities Alliance chief Shahbaz Bhatti and National Christian Action Forum secretary Cecil Chaudhry on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference here, they demanded that the government should effectively implement laws against preaching of hatred and inciting violence through word of mouth, media, graffiti and other means.
They also demanded abolition of blasphemy laws and revision of school curricula and textbooks and "any sections teaching religious or sectarian intolerance should be taken out."
They regretted that the government was sending contradictory signals to extremist groups with 'proven terrorist links' by alternately hobnobbing and playing tough with them.
They suggested use of Zakat funds to expand public services and education for the poor for "preventing segments of society from going to extremist religious organizations spreading hatred through their teachings and other activities."
Replying to a question, they said they were convinced that banned religious outfits were involved in the recent terror acts.
They denied that Father George Ibrahim was killed as a result of some property dispute or for putting up resistance to robbers.
They deplored that neither the prime minister, the governor or chief minister expressed grief over the killing of the priest nor they visited the spot to condole with the bereaved family.
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Six of outlawed group arrested in Lahore
05-7-2003
LAHORE, July 5: Six people of a banned militant group, including one with a head money, were reportedly arrested from Ghaziabad on Saturday.
The man with a head money is said to be Allah Wasaya, who was required by Punjab police in various cases.
Officials of intelligence agencies with the help of police raided a house in Ghaziabad and arrested them. Weapons were also seized.
The police had launched a crackdown on militant groups in connection with the attack on imambargah in Quetta.
Sources said seven people, believed to be activists of a militant group, were picked up from Nawankot police jurisdiction.
When contacted, SSP (operation) Aftab Cheema said that he had no knowledge of the arrests.
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Christians protest against police 'inaction': Fr Ibrahim's murder
05-8-2003
OKARA, Aug 5: The Christian community demonstrated in various parts of the Punjab on Tuesday to protest against police's failure to arrest the killers of Fr George Ibrahim.
Fr Ibrahim was shot dead at Renala Khurd by some unidentified people on July 5 this year, and the Punjab police have yet to arrest the culprits.
In the Okara district, hundreds of Christians took out a procession in front of the press club under the leadership of minority MPA of the Christian Liberation Front, and the All-Party Minorities' Alliance.
MPA Mrs Najmi Saleem Sindhu, Fr James Sirajdin, district council member Javed Masih Sindhu and Christian Liberation Front's President Dr Boez Amir, who led the procession and gave vent to their feelings, alleged that the police had been treating this murder as a case of property dispute. "This is a wrong attitude," they added.
The police had, they claimed, arrested "our two men Sharif and Niamat, but the real culprits are still at large." The Christians said they would continue their protest till the arrest of the nominated accused.
Placards the protesters had held were emblazoned with slogans against the police.
FAISALABAD: Christians took out a rally and demonstrated against what they called the Okara police's apathy.
Carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the Okara administration and their demands, the protesters marched through various roads.
They chanted slogans all the way through against the police, saying "the actual murderers of Fr Ibrahim are yet to be arrested." Some of the Christian youths were beating their chests, holding the police responsible for worsening the law and order situation in Okara by arresting the "innocent" people.
Those who participated in the rally belonged to the All Pakistan Minorities' Alliance, Christian Diocese of Faisalabad, Joint Action Committee, Human Rights Focus and the Christian Liberation Front.
TOBA TEK SINGH: The protesters in this part of the Punjab were as vocal as those at other places, urging the police to apprehend the assassins of Fr Ibrahim, who was shot dead in his sleep. Christians from Gojra and Shorkot joined the march, which started from Christian Colony and terminated at the tehsil municipal office.
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