Islamabad, October 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Pakistan’s Christian community is seeking protection for cemetery land in Islamabad, with the Roman Catholic Christian Society asserting that decades-old records establish its allocation for burials. The dispute has renewed concerns over the protection of minority property rights amid competing claims over land ownership.
According to a report published by Italy-based online magazine Bitter Winter, the dispute has entered a new phase following a site inspection and appeals by the society, which maintains that approximately 10 kanals of land were formally allocated for use as a Christian cemetery.
Citing information reported by the Pakistan Christian Post, Bitter Winter said the Roman Catholic Christian Society was registered on July 7, 1987, and had documented land acquisitions extending into the mid-1990s. The society has also referred to arrangements recorded in 1995 and Mutation No. 2298 as part of the administrative documentation supporting its claim.
The society maintains that the land was incorporated into planning documents as cemetery space before large-scale development expanded into the surrounding area. Its representatives argue that the chronology is significant because Bahria Town’s expansion into nearby areas began after 2005, whereas the Christian community’s land had reportedly been acquired during the late 1980s and 1990s.
According to Bitter Winter, representatives of the society have reported attempts to assert control over parts of the allocated cemetery land since 2016. They maintain that the original land records should be considered when assessing the competing claims.
Revenue Officials Inspect Disputed Site
The report stated that officials from Pakistan’s Revenue Department inspected the disputed site on September 10, 2026.
According to the society, the inspection confirmed the presence of graves spread across approximately 2.5 kanals within the area historically designated for cemetery use.
The society argues that the graves demonstrate the site’s longstanding use for burials and that the remaining allocated land should be protected against encroachment and unauthorised development.
The inspection’s findings and the society’s interpretation of the historical records form part of its case for preserving the cemetery land.
Community Raises Concerns Over Burial Incident
The dispute reportedly intensified following an incident in late September, when community representatives said they approached the police for protection.
According to Bitter Winter, the society submitted an application seeking security for the cemetery and the land recorded in its name. Its representatives alleged that the response they received did not adequately address the concerns raised.
The report also referred to allegations that police attempted to prevent the burial of a Christian woman. Details of the incident circulated on social media after community members shared their accounts, bringing renewed attention to the dispute.
However, Bitter Winter noted that a complete account of the episode would require the police’s version, the original application and details of any subsequent administrative or legal action.
The dispute highlights the Christian community’s efforts to secure recognition and protection for land it says was allocated for cemetery use decades ago. The society continues to maintain that historical documentation and the site’s existing graves support its claim to the disputed property.
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