Kingston, Jamaica — 6 March 2026
A proposed law in Pakistan aimed at protecting property owned by religious minorities has drawn international attention, highlighting a broader global issue: how land and buildings tied to faith communities are safeguarded under the law. While the bill applies to a province thousands of miles away, the underlying question — who protects community property and how — resonates in countries like Jamaica where churches, temples, and other faith institutions remain central to neighbourhood life.
The legislation, introduced in the Punjab provincial assembly by a member of the legislature who chairs its committee on human rights and minority affairs, seeks to strengthen legal protections for property owned or used by minority religious communities. The bill would extend protection not only to places of worship such as churches, Sikh gurdwaras and Hindu temples, but also to properties acquired or developed using government grants, charity donations, community fu…
