Pastor Stops Firebombing In The Nick Of Time
On a recent Saturday night in Phoolnagar, Punjab Province, Pakistan, an attempted arson attack on a church was narrowly averted thanks to the quick action of its pastor. Pastor Tanveer Boota of Bethaniya Pentecostal Church in Gulshan Basti reported hearing suspicious noises coming from the church hall around midnight while he was resting in his quarters on the premises. Upon investigation, he found two masked individuals inside the church, one of whom was trying to ignite a curtain. When he confronted them, the intruders fled.
Pastor Boota’s brother, Usman, helped extinguish the fire while police were called to the scene. Authorities arrived promptly and recovered evidence including a kerosene bottle and a makeshift torch used in the attempted arson. According to Pastor Boota, there had been no prior threats or religious friction in the area, which is home to about 500 Christian families and several churches, both Pentecostal and Catholic. He expressed confusion and concern over the motive, as the community had always lived peacefully alongside their Muslim neighbors.
Though the First Information Report (FIR) filed by police mentioned a potential burglary, Pastor Boota clarified that this theory was introduced by law enforcement without his agreement. He claimed officers manipulated the crime scene to make it appear as a failed robbery. Despite this, district police officials have promised a detailed investigation and are awaiting fingerprint results to identify the culprits.
Bethaniya Pentecostal Church, a small congregation of 16 families, was established two years ago on land owned by the pastor. Pastor Boota, who has served in ministry for eight years, emphasized his gratitude that the fire did not spread further. He called on authorities to ensure justice is served, maintaining that such acts should not disrupt the peaceful coexistence in the region.
This incident follows a similar case in Lahore in late 2023, where a church was deliberately set on fire. That arson was later discovered to be the work of a church treasurer seeking to take the pastor’s position. Incidents like these occur in a context where Christians face significant challenges in Pakistan, which ranks eighth on the 2025 World Watch List of the most dangerous countries for Christians.