As per the documents available with The Friday Times, on March 3, 2023, three legal notices were served to ten people including Rev. Shafique Kanwal, Rev. Ghazala Shafique, Dr. Jennifer Benita, Alvin Minhas, Luke Victor, Kaiser John, Ashraf Abdullah, Mansha Masih, Munawar Masih, and Iqbal Gill.
As per legal notices, the above-mentioned ten persons are asked to tender a written unconditional apology within 15 days otherwise legal proceedings seeking damages of Rs 15,00,00,000 (fifteen crores rupees) would be initiated against them.
While talking to this scribe, Rev. Ghazala Shafique, to whom legal notices have also been served, claimed that Karachi Diocese Bishop Rt. Rev. Frederick Jhon, Treasurer Anwar Sardar Khan, and Honorary Secretary Rev. Irfan Sharif have intentions to shut down Saint Thomas Cemetery and want to raise commercial projects there.
She stated that protest demonstrations were held in front of Karachi Press Club to resist this act in which the protestors burnt the effigy of Karachi Diocese office-bearers. The effigy containing names of the office-bearers of Karachi Diocese were hanged on a stick that is being projected as a Cross by them, she added.
She further said that on October 6, 2022, Karachi Diocese Honorary Secretary Rev. Irfan Sharif filed an application at Artillery Maidan police station seeking lodgment of FIR against her and others for allegedly burning the effigy containing names of the Bishop and others hanging in the ‘shape of Cross’.
"Why would any Christian desecrate or burn the holy Cross as it is sacred for all of us," she insisted.
Whereas, Karachi Diocese office-bearer pastor Irfan told this scribe that the diocese has no intention of framing blasphemy charges against the Christian fellows, adding that a wrong perception is being generated through social media posts. "We want legal action against them as per the visuals of the demonstration," he stated.
He claimed that these persons have personal motives behind the protests and for this purpose, they turned against the bishop.