Aslam Pervaiz Sahotra (centre) A prominent Pakistani Christian political leader has written a letter to Punjab authorities seeking permission to construct a church and baptism pool for minority inmates in Lahore central prison.
In his letter, Massiha Millat Party chairman Aslam Pervaiz Sahotra asked the minority affairs minister to give his attention to the number of non-Muslim prisoners at Central Jail Lahore.
“There is only one church for Christian prisoners,” wrote Sahotra. “Only 20 to 25 people can barely offer their prayers together, hence it is impossible for the 200 Christian prisoners to pray together.
“Given the lack of space for Christian worshipers in the jail, it is humbly requested that the Home Secretary Department be directed to build a new church building measuring 20 feet by 50 feet and a baptism pool measuring 6 feet by 6 feet opposite block-6/7 in Central Jail Lahore.”
Murder
Twenty-nine Christians, including Sahotra, were arrested for the murder of two Muslims over the Lahore church bombings in 2015. They were later acquitted on January 29 after paying blood money to the victims’ families.
Since his recent release, Sahotra has been very vocal about issues faced by minority prisoners.