LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Khalil Tahir Sandhu says that in Liaqatpur tehsil of Rahim Yar Khan a self appointed, fictitious and fraudulent body of local Christians, in a clandestine manner, is involved in transaction of 102 marla land of the local Church on the basis of fictitious documents.

According to a press release, the minister said he had become cognizant of the entire situation and founded the clergy had expressed deep concern on thematter and called for immediate action to annul this fraudulent transaction.

Mr Sandhu reiterated that under the express provisions of the Protection of Communal Properties of Minorities Ordinance 2002, more particularly its Section 3 which is mandatory in its application and nature, categorically and strictly proscribed the sale, purchase and transfer of Church property by any person without a no objection certificate (NOC) from the federalgovernment.

He said Section 5 of the ordinance said that whoever bought, sold or transferred any property belonging to a minority community meant for its communal use in violation of Section 3, shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description which might extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine which shall not be less than Rs100,000 and the sale or transaction shall be of no legal effect.

The minister further said that after 18th Amendment, the concur-rent list in the Constitution had been abolished and the power had been conferred on the provinces to legislate on the issue. The province of Sindh had already passed the Sindh Protection of Communal Properties of Minorities Act 2013, he added.

Mr Sandhu said that he had also written a letter to Punjab Law Minister Rana Sana in this connection, requesting him to initiate legal and disciplinary action to bring the culprits involved in the heinous offence to book.