Bishop Indrias Rehmat chose Fr Abid Tanvir, former diocese vicar general, as parish priest. Two catechists were also appointed to work with him. Admired and visited by Muslims, the church named after Saint Anthony was inaugurated last year. The bishop urged the faithful “to make this beautiful church stronger in spirituality.”
Masheel Rasheed was also sexually abused by her abductors. The father had tried to report the incident to the police, but received no support. Now he and his daughter live in hiding because they fear reprisals from Muslim extremists.
The first stone was laid in 2007 by the then local parish priest and Card Joseph Coutts, then bishop of the diocese. Thousands of faithful were present at the ceremony, which was also attended by children from local Catholic schools. For Bishop Indrias Rehmat, God “has granted us courage and resources so that we could complete His house as David and Samuel did