On March 9, 2013 a fierce mob of Muslim rioters descended upon Joseph Colony in the Badami Bagh area of Lahore torching more than 150 houses and two churches. Inept police personnel proved to be no match for this charged group of violent thugs who dealt paralyzing blows to an innocent Christian community. Although this unprecedented level of destruction left all Pakistani Christians, and most responsible Muslims, stunned and perplexed, perhaps the most heavily affected were Christian children for whom the trauma of this incident will linger for a long time.
Joseph Colony, located on a piece of immensely valuable real estate and owned by the Lahore Municipal Corporation is home to very pricey industrial estate because of which it has always been the target of controversy and vested interests. It consists of makeshift homes and is occupied by poverty-stricken Christians whose spiritual leader, Bishop Sadiq Daniel, gave expression to the feelings of many of its residents in the following words, “We don’t want to leave. But we are not safe here. We need protection.”
When news of the Joseph Colony attack and arson made headlines there was an outpouring of remorse and affection by Lahoris from all walks of life for their Christian brothers and sisters. Many organizations and civil society groups got together and visited the area, taking gifts with them and helping the children get over their trauma through painting and storytelling activities.
However, in a country like Pakistan, besieged by innumerable problems a violent event can soon be forgotten among the plethora of headline-generating incidents that replace the preceding one. That is why the recent Christmas drive to take toys to the children of Joseph Colony was a worthy cause. Initiated by Haroon Samuel and his close friends, this drive’s aim was to provide gifts to the underprivileged children of Joseph Colony. It became a reality when Haroon combined his resources with a friend from overseas. He felt that providing gifts for grief stricken children within the Christian community would help lift their spirits, and ultimately allow the community to help regain its trust in humanity.
Sporting goods such as cricket bats, balls, badminton rackets, and shuttlecocks were chosen as gifts. These items were specifically sought to help children play and grow together, enable social contact and to spread warmth within the community.
Enough gifts were purchased for the entire Joseph Colony community. Mr. Habib Azher, a local sporting goods distributor, helped provide a substantial discount on the purchase of these items. Another close friend and student of Haroon Samuel, Irfan Nazar stepped in to help with the collection, transportation and distribution of the gifts. Haroon’s father, Mr. Samuel Imran, provided the Santa Claus attire worn by Irfan Nazar.
The unsuspecting children were all smiles and laughter when they saw Santa Claus descend on Joseph Colony on Christmas Eve 2013. There was a palpable feeling of elation and warmth in the air. Even the parents of the children seemed to delight in Santa, for the gifts their children received weren’t merely objects but reminders that these children were loved, wanted, and cherished again by outsiders.
The consequences of failing to integrate religious minorities within Pakistan have become apparent. There has been a mass exodus of Pakistani Christians from the country which has tarnished Pakistan’s image and caused it significant embarrassment. Initiatives of this kind are absolutely essential in helping our minorities feel integrated and to do justice to the white part of our flag.
An excellent write-up by Arif Mahmood with great photographs by Saad Sarfraz Sheikh.
I am proud of Haroon Samuel, Irfan Nazar, Saad Sarfraz Sheikh and everyone else involved in this great work. God bless you!
Arif Mahmood, thank you for a great write-up.Saad Sarfraz Sheikh, thank you for all your help and for the photographs.I would like to mention that, by the grace of God, we managed to provide gifts to all kids in the colony and had some left over.And I am glad to have been a part of this initiative.God Bless us all !
Thanks to Habib Azher and Irfan Nazar !
Special thanks to the single donor who financed this initiative.May God bless him and his family!
Some gleam of hope in otherwise muddy and dark tunnel. Christians of Pakistan, please forgive us, we have betrayed you and the trust. Hopefully, we would overcome this grief collectively and of course with our prayers to the same God.
This article by Arif is a heartwarming. This is the action of the compassionate individuals who believe in humanity and practice the real teaching of Islam! History shows that greatness of nations and cultures is enhanced by such actions. For nations and individuals the fruits of kindness and justice always exceed what is acquired through cruelty, injustice and theft. I hope that the majority of the people of Pakistan would take an active stand against cruelty and inhuman treatment of any human being regardless of their faith, ethnicity or socio-economic status.
A wonderful initiative that I hope will be replicated across communities in Pakistan. The article was very well written and balances the chilling reality of life in Pakistan with the hopes that people living there can have.
An excellent write-up by Arif Mahmood with great photographs by Saad Sarfraz Sheikh. I am proud of Haroon Samuel, Irfan Nazar, Saad Sarfraz Sheikh and everyone else involved in this great work. God bless you!
Arif Mahmood Thanks , for an insightful post, I truly appreciate your dedication and effort. Thanks for the donor for generous donation . Your generosity is not about the money, it’ s about the emotional kindness and strength you gave to the Joseph colony families . Thank you so much for all the volunteers for your commitment of time and energy to do this important project .
s about the emotional kindness and the strength you gave the Joseph coloney families . Thank you so much for all the volunteers for your commitment of time and energy to this important project .