Protests finally take control of Edwards College for Pak Christian leadership

As part of the New Year's gift to Christians in Pakistan, control of the historic Edwards College in Peshawar has returned to the Church. The government has nationalized the oldest missionary education center in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province following a June 2021 court ruling. Shunila Ruth, Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, said the Christian community in Pakistan was delighted to have the college back and thanked God for resolving issues related to Edwards College.

They have also announced the appointment of a new principal who is also a Christian. Humphrey Peters, president of the Church of Pakistan in Peshawar, which has been leading protests since June 2021 to regain control of the college, said it was a New Year's gift and that the church was out of control of the college and now 75 percent of the college's control. Asad Marshall, moderator of the Church of Pakistan, said the schools were not for profit and that Christians in Pakistan were being marginalized due to nationalization.

Edwards College, founded by the Church Missionary Society in 1900, was handed over to the Lahore Diocesan Trust Association in 1956. In June last year, the college was taken over by the local government following an order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The nationalization of educational institutions continues to be of great concern to the Catholic and Protestant churches in Pakistan. The church leadership said that 8 schools and colleges under the diocese of Sialkot are still under the control of the government and efforts are being made to get rid of them.