10 dead bodies have to be buried in a single grave

Peshawar. The pathetic condition of the minority community in Pakistan is not hidden from anyone. The condition of the Christian community here has become such that they have to bury 5 to 10 dead bodies in a single grave, which are already full of skeletons and bones. It was told that there are only four cemeteries for more than 70,000 Christians living in Peshawar and other cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Augustin Jacob, a representative of the Christian community in Peshawar, told that old graves are being dug here so that the dead can be used for burial. He said that despite the increase in population, no attention was paid to this aspect. He told that the issue has been discussed with the government, but there has been talk of the authority giving land outside the city for the cemetery, but this may create more problems for the Christian community.

Cemetery land being given out of town
Augustin Jacob was quoted as saying, ‘The place the administration is giving us is outside Peshawar. It is becoming difficult for people to survive in these economic conditions, how will they bear the expenses of vehicles to bury the dead.

Jacob said that the Christian community needs such a place in the city where people can easily reach. He said most of the Christians living in the area belong to the working class and cannot afford to buy land for the new cemetery.

Government allocated Rs 5 crore for 7 cemeteries
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration in March 2019 allocated 75 million Pakistani rupees (PKR) for the construction of five cremation grounds for the Hindu community and seven graveyards for Christians. Of these, 24 million Pakistani rupees were allocated for the construction of five cremation grounds and 51 million Pakistani rupees for purchasing land for seven Christian cemeteries, officials said.

Officials were quoted as saying that the concerned department has approved the purchase of four kanals of land for the crematorium in Peshawar and two kanals of land each in Hangu, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and now Shera districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Local Muslims objecting to the Christian cemetery
According to officials, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved the purchase of six kanals of land for a Christian cemetery in Peshawar, five kanals each in Mardan, Kohat, Swabi and Lower Dir and four kanals each in Swat and Nowshera districts.
On the other hand, Alaika Khan, a social worker from Peshawar says, ‘The government had allotted land for the cemetery, but the local Muslim community is not allowing them to build the cemetery. Khan called upon the government to take immediate action in this matter as they are forced to bury the dead in old graves.