The Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (PCBC) has condemned the hate-filled speech against churches by a hardline cleric while he was protesting the demolition of a British-era mosque in the national capital Islamabad.
Newsroom (15/08/2025 Gaudium Press )The Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (PCBC) has issued a strong condemnation of inflammatory remarks made by Muhammad Owais Aziz, the Ameer of Jamiat Ulema Islam in Islamabad, targeting churches during a protest against the demolition of a historic mosque in the capital.
The controversy erupted following the Capital Development Authority’s demolition of the 1932-built Madni Mosque, which authorities claimed encroached on a designated green belt. In response, Aziz delivered a speech laced with derogatory and baseless accusations, alleging that other religious groups, including Christians, had been allowed to construct churches and other institutions on illegally occupied land, which he referred to as “heaps of filth.”
In a joint statement released on August 14, the PCBC, alongside Naeem Yusaf Gill, executive director of the bishops’ National Commission for Justice and Peace, denounced Aziz’s remarks as “inflammatory” and a direct attack on the Christian community and its institutions. “We demand accountability and justice. Such hate speech directly violates established legal precedent,” the statement read, emphasizing the need for interfaith dialogue and mutual respect to foster a harmonious society.
The cleric’s comments sparked widespread outrage among Pakistan’s Christian community, with many taking to social media to express their condemnation. Defending his stance, Aziz said on August 15 that he supports minority rights in Pakistan, an Islamic state. However, he alleged that numerous churches and Shia congregation halls (imambargahs) had been built on encroached land and were being legalized, while the government had issued notices to 50 mosques linked to the hardline Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat group, suggesting bias.
Father Inayat Bernard, chaplain of Caritas Pakistan, firmly rejected Aziz’s claims, stating, “We do not know of any Catholic church built on encroached property.” He underscored the Church’s longstanding contributions to education and healthcare in Pakistan, emphasizing that these efforts have been made without ulterior motives or religious manipulation. “The government has the right and a duty to counter illegal settlements,” Bernard added.
The Multan-based Catholic Commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism (CCIDE) also called for swift action from provincial and federal authorities. “These culprits not only hurt the Christian community but also tarnish Pakistan’s image at national and international levels,” said Samuel Clement, CCIDE’s national executive secretary, in a press release on August 14.
The incident highlights the persistent challenges faced by religious minorities in Pakistan, where growing intolerance, extremism, and social discrimination remain pressing concerns. According to the Lahore-based Center for Social Justice, at least 23 churches were attacked in Punjab in 2023, including 22 in Jaranwala, where a mob targeted Christians on August 16 of that year. Media reports also indicate three church attacks in 2022 and the demolition of one church in 2021, underscoring a troubling trend of violence against minority religious sites.
As tensions persist, church leaders and advocates continue to urge the government to address hate speech and protect the rights of all religious communities in Pakistan.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCAN News
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