PAKISTAN: CHRISTIANS DEFY ASSEMBLY BAN TO ATTEND FUNERAL OF COMRADE KILLED IN CLASH WITH POLICE.

Record ID: 566015

  • Title: PAKISTAN: CHRISTIANS DEFY ASSEMBLY BAN TO ATTEND FUNERAL OF COMRADE KILLED IN CLASH WITH POLICE.
  • Date: 2nd September 1972
  • Summary: 1. GV & SV Pall-bearers carrying coffins in procession (2 shots) 0.08 2. CU Priest leading procession 0.11 3. GV Procession enters cemetery & through grounds (3 shots) 0.30 4. MV Bishop of Lahore reading service as mourners look on (3 shots) 0.40 5. STV Coffin lowered into hole in ground 0.45 6. GV PAN Injured in hospital beds 0.51 7. CU Patient with bandaged head 0.53 8. CU Patient ZOOM BACK TO nurse testing blood pressure 1.02 9. CU Patients (2 shots) 1.09 10. SV Nurse attending patient 1.15 Initials BB/0104 CG/BOB/BB/0110 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 17th September 1972 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Reuters ID: LVA2W0X2KNK97RKKFVJ6PZ43AGA2
  • Story Text: A group of Christians defied a Pakistani law forbidding public gathering on Friday (1st September) to attend the funeral of one of their number killed in clashes with the police in Rawalpindi earlier in the week.

    The dead man, Mr. R.M. James, an official of the Pakistan Masihi (Christian) League, was shot dead while taking part in a 3,000-strong procession of Christians trying to march on the Presidency to protest at the nationalisation of all Pakistani schools, Christian and otherwise.

    The demonstrators had come into conflict with police who tried to turn them back. Racks were thrown at the police, and then shots were exchanged. Mr James and two other people--one of them a shopkeeper who was watching the skirmish from a doorway--were hit and killed.

    Thirty-six were injured in the riot, which ended with a police baton charge, backed by teargas. An official police statement said that the Christians started shooting first, and their fire was returned. But the Christians claim it was the police who did all the firing.

    The funeral of Mr. James was attended by a group of Christians in defiance of section 144 of the Defence of Pakistan Rules which forbids the assembly of more than four persons in the open. The service was conducted by the Bishop of Lahore, the Most Rev. Inayat Masih.

    SYNOPSIS: Mr. Jones was an official of the Christian League which organised the demonstration in protest at nationalisation of all schools, Christian and otherwise. The demonstrators were attempting to march on the Presidency when the police tried to turn them back.

    Shots were exchanged in the ensuing skirmish, during which three were killed--including an innocent bystander--and thirty-six injured. An official police statement said the Christian demonstrators started the shooting...whereas the Christians claimed it was the police who fired the shots.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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