Karachi, 09 September 2024 – A tense situation at the historic Holy Trinity Church in Karachi was peacefully resolved on Saturday after Islamic inscriptions were found on the church's walls. Shabbir Shafqat, Chairman of the National Christian Party, confirmed that with the cooperation of local police, administrators, and Muslim community members, the inscriptions were removed, restoring calm to the area.
The incident occurred on Friday, when individuals defaced the walls of the Holy Trinity Cathedral with Islamic inscriptions. Shabbir Shafqat praised the swift response of religious leaders and local authorities, noting that such cooperation between communities plays a crucial role in defusing tensions in Karachi. "Whenever incidents like this happen, religious parties come forward to restore peace in the city," Shabbir said, expressing gratitude for the positive outcome.
In his statement, Shabbir emphasized the importance of mutual respect for all religions and places of worship, remarking, "If we wrote Bible verses on the walls of a Hindu temple, it would be equally inappropriate. We must respect everyone’s beliefs, and the law encourages this as well." He urged that such actions, which spread fear and discord, be avoided to maintain peace and protect the safety of religious communities.
The Rt Revd Fredrik John, Bishop of Karachi and Baluchistan, declined to comment on the matter.
Historical Significance of Holy Trinity Church
Holy Trinity Cathedral, located on Fatima Jinnah Road near Zainab Market, is one of Karachi’s most prominent and historic churches. Established in 1844 and completed in 1855, the church is the seat of the Diocese of Karachi for the Church of Pakistan. Designed by Captain John Hill of the Bombay Engineers, the church originally featured a 150-foot tower that served as a navigational beacon for ships in Karachi Harbour, as there were no lighthouses at the time.
Over the years, the church has undergone various modifications, including the reduction of the tower’s height to 115 feet in 1904 due to structural concerns. During World War I, the tower was repurposed as a signaling station. The church, a former British garrison church, was built to accommodate 800 worshippers and continues to memorialize British servicemen who perished in various military campaigns.
Holy Trinity Church stands as a symbol of Karachi’s rich religious and cultural history, making the recent defacement particularly troubling for the city’s Christian community.
