On September 21, 2012, Sarhadi Lutheran Church in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Province, became the target of a violent and destructive mob attack. The attack was part of a broader wave of protests against a sacrilegious film that had provoked outrage among Muslims worldwide. The mob, estimated to consist of nearly 8,000 people, unleashed its fury on the church, setting it on fire along with two pastor houses and the nearby headteacher’s residence of a local Christian school. Before the buildings were torched, the mob looted and plundered valuables from the premises, leaving devastation in its wake.
This tragic event highlighted the vulnerability of religious minorities in Pakistan, where acts of violence against non-Muslim communities are often fueled by religious and political tensions. The burning of Sarhadi Lutheran Church not only destroyed a place of worship but also shattered the lives of those who lived and worked there.
I-LAP’s Intervention
In response to this heinous attack, Chairman I-LAP, Sajid Sandhu, visited the site of the burned church on the day of the incident to assess the damage and express solidarity with the affected Christian community. Recognizing the severity of the destruction, the Chairman launched a formal complaint with the relevant authorities, demanding justice and immediate action.
During his visit, Sajid Sandhu publicly criticized the KP Chief Minister’s announcement of Rs. 30 million in compensation for the damages, stating that the actual loss, including both movable and immovable property, was closer to Rs. 120 million. His persistent advocacy and efforts led to a significant breakthrough when the Federal Government, in response to I-LAP’s intervention, contributed an additional Rs. 70 million towards the reconstruction of the church.
In addition to the financial support, I-LAP partnered with the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) to hold a joint press conference aimed at condemning both the sacrilegious film and the violent retaliation it sparked. This press conference was a significant event, bringing together people from diverse religious communities, including Muslims, Hindus, Christians, and Sikhs. The gathering served as a platform for interfaith dialogue and collective condemnation of the violence.
At the press conference, both Chairman I-LAP Sajid Sandhu and Chairman PUC Tahir Ashrafi expressed deep sorrow over the burning of Sarhadi Lutheran Church. They strongly condemned the act of “hate preaching” by the U.S. national filmmaker who had incited a global wave of religious violence. The leaders stressed that such provocative actions, while protected under free speech in some contexts, crossed a line when they deliberately violated the sacred religious sentiments of over a billion Muslims worldwide.
The meeting also reviewed a report presented by Chairman Sajid Sandhu, detailing the findings of a fact-finding mission to Sarhadi Lutheran Church. The report underscored the scale of the destruction and the urgent need for government intervention. In light of these findings, I-LAP and PUC called on both the provincial government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the federal government to prioritize the reconstruction of the church. They also emphasized the importance of compensating the affected Christian community and implementing measures to ensure their safety and security in the future.
In their closing remarks, the leaders reaffirmed their respect for the international right to free speech and expression but insisted that such rights should not be used to incite hatred or violence. They called for responsible discourse and urged the global community to recognize the grave consequences of actions that disrespect the religious beliefs of others.
Through these efforts, I-LAP demonstrated its commitment to standing with the Christian community in Mardan, advocating for justice, and promoting interfaith harmony in the face of adversity.




