LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has dismissed a petition filed by the Diocese of Lahore of the Church of Pakistan challenging the order of the Registrar Joint Stock Companies, Lahore wherein it had declared the election of Reverend Nadeem Kamran as Bishop of Lahore illegal and unconstitutional.
The LHC order was passed by Justice Raheel Kamran on Aug. 18.
Welcoming the decision, Church of Pakistan Spokesperson Reverend Emmanuel Khokhar said the high court’s decision had vindicated their stance that Rev Kamran’s election was conducted in violation of the constitution and rules of the Church of Pakistan.
“Office-bearers of the Diocese of Lahore had not only cheated their members but also lied before the Registrar Joint Stock Companies that it was an autonomous body and did not come under the purview of the Synod of the Church of Pakistan,” he said.
Rev Khokhar said that in line with the Registrar’s order to hold a new election of the bishop in accordance with the constitution and rules of the Church of Pakistan, the vice president of the DoL and moderator’s commissary Rev Emmanuel Lorraine had issued a notice for a special meeting on Sept. 18, in which the new Bishop of Lahore will be elected by the members.
“We hope that the perpetrators of the chaos that resulted from the illegal election of Rev Kamran will now desist from indulging in further litigation to stop the holding of a constitutional election.
“The order of the Registrar and its endorsement from the LHC have proved that our stance is aimed at protecting the unity of the Church of Pakistan and stopping the unscrupulous elements from exploiting church resources for their vested interests,” he said.
He added that Rev Kamran should stop projecting himself as the bishop of Lahore as it is tantamount to contempt of the court and will lead to legal proceedings against him.
