A national cricket tournament organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, along with road closures and strict security measures, has raised concerns among the local Christian community. The closures have made it difficult for them to access St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shamsabad, especially with Christmas approaching.
The tournament, which ends on December 25, coincides with Christmas, heightening worries that the same road blockages will affect churchgoers’ ability to attend services. On Sunday, traffic police had closed all routes leading to the church, preventing worshippers from attending mass. Churchgoers from nearby areas such as Sadiqabad, Dhoke Kala Khan, and Iqbal Town typically attend three services every Sunday, but on Christmas, additional services are scheduled to accommodate the influx of attendees. However, the current security measures raise doubts about accessibility.
Saleem Bhatti, a resident of Dhoke Kala Khan, expressed frustration over the difficulties his family faced in reaching the church on December 15. Many community members are registered at St. Mary’s, and they are concerned about how they will attend services on Christmas Day.
St. Mary’s church administration has written to local authorities requesting road access on Christmas but has not received a response. Meanwhile, local traders also voiced their concerns about the disruptions caused by the tournament’s security arrangements, urging that matches be moved outside the city to avoid further inconvenience.
