Pakistani church leaders accused of misusing loudspeakers

MARTINPUR, Pakistan — Christian leaders in Punjab province’s Nankana Sahib district said they were apprehensive after a police inspector’s warning Jan. 7 that “they would be responsible for anything that went wrong in the villages” if they continued preaching over a public address system. Eight pastors leading a delegation of more than 100 Christians from Martinpur and Youngsenabad villages had persuaded police to drop the charge of preaching over the church loudspeakers — a practice routinely allowed by Muslims in mosques.

They complained of inspector Muhammad Rana Ishaq’s veiled threat to the police chief, but they fear Ishaq will file other false cases against them in retaliation for the withdrawal of the charge. The Christian delegation registered a strong protest with the Nankana police chief for restricting their worship. After two hours of talks, the police chief conceded that his staff had discriminated against the Christians and ordered withdrawal of the case. Police had filed a case against the eight pastors for “misusing loudspeakers” Dec. 25, 2010. Pastor Mubarak Victor of Cavalry Gospel Church, Martinpur village said the charge was ridiculous, as they have been preaching and worshipping on public address systems for decades.

“Our villages are inhabited by Christians, and we have been worshipping freely for years,” Victor said. “A ban on using loudspeakers was imposed on Muslim clerics because they often indulge in fanning sectarianism. This action of the administration is nothing but religious bigotry.”