In the silent hours of April 6, 2025, while the world around slumbered in peace, a sacred space came under attack. Bethanya Church, a humble yet cherished place of worship nestled in Gulshan Colony, Jambar Khurd, Tehsil Pattoki, District Kasur, nearly fell victim to a despicable act of violence.
Two masked assailants — driven by hate and cloaked in the cover of night — crept towards the church at 12:24 AM with a cruel intention: to set it ablaze. Armed with petrol and a will to destroy, they sought to reduce this house of prayer to ashes. But what they did not anticipate was courage — the courage of Pastor Tanvir Boota, who heard the ominous movements, felt the danger, and confronted it head-on.
He didn’t run. He didn’t hide. He asked them what they intended. And perhaps in that moment — faced not with fear, but with unwavering resolve — the cowards fled, swallowed by the darkness they brought with them.
The attempt may have failed, but the trauma lingers. The image of a church nearly consumed by fire, of believers waking up to the terrifying reality that even their sanctuaries are not safe, cuts deep.
Pastor Boota immediately informed the police, leading to a case being registered under FIR No. 953/25. Investigations have begun, but the faceless shadows that tried to burn down more than just a building must be caught — not merely for justice, but for hope.
Across the country, a wave of anguish and fury has risen. Pastor Imran Amanat echoed this grief. Easter meant to be a time of resurrection and joy, has in recent years become a season of fear for many Christian families in Pakistan. “How long,” he asked, “must we live under the shadow of hate? How many churches must be threatened before we act?”
The Christian community in Pakistan is resilient. Their faith has been tested time and again — through discrimination, threats, and now, arson attempts. But their hope endures. Their prayers continue. And their trust in justice, though shaken, still holds.
To those who tried to silence their songs with fire: you failed.
You failed because one man stood up.
You failed because a community refuses to bow.
You failed because the light inside Bethanya Church — the light of faith, courage, and unity — burns brighter than any flame you could ever bring.
And now, the world watches. Will justice rise? Will Pakistan protect its own? The answer must be yes — not just for Bethanya Church, but for every place where the spirit seeks peace and is met with persecution.
Because no place of worship should ever burn. And no faith should ever be forced to live in fear.