LHC seeks replies in Christian graveyard burial dispute case in Faisalabad

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday issued notices to all respondents and sought detailed replies on a plea concerning an alleged dispute over the burial of members of the Christian community in a designated graveyard in Faisalabad, where burials are reportedly being halted under the cover of a court stay order.

The application was filed by Pannu Masih, who moved the court seeking permission to resume burials at an 8-kanal and 18-marla piece of land located in Chak No. 212-GB, Samundri. According to the petition, the land had been earmarked for use as a Christian graveyard through an order issued by the deputy commissioner of Faisalabad on May 11.

The applicant further stated that the land had already been formally mutated in favour of the Christian graveyard on January 6, establishing its legal status for burial purposes.

However, the petition raised concerns that another individual, identified as Khalid Munir, had obtained a stay order from the Lahore High Court on June 4 against the deputy commissioner’s allotment decision. It was alleged that the stay order was secured without disclosing key facts, including the prior mutation of the land for graveyard use.

According to the petitioner, the respondent is now allegedly using the court’s stay order to prevent the burial of deceased members of the Christian community, resulting in serious hardship and emotional distress for the affected families. The application described the situation as causing “irreparable loss” and disrupting essential burial arrangements.

The petitioner urged the court to intervene and allow burials to proceed on the designated shamlat land, emphasizing that the site had been specifically reserved for the Christian community’s burial needs.

The matter was heard by Justice Abid Hussain Chattha, who after a preliminary review of the application issued notices to all respondents. The court directed them to submit their replies for further examination of the legal and factual issues involved.

The case has drawn attention due to its sensitive nature, touching upon community rights, land allotment procedures, and the implementation of court orders. Observers note that the outcome may have significant implications for how burial grounds for minority communities are managed and protected under the law.

Further proceedings will resume once the responses are submitted, as the court continues to examine whether the stay order is being misused or if legal complications exist regarding the land’s status.

For now, the LHC has kept the matter open, seeking clarity before issuing any final direction on the resumption of burials at the disputed site.