Following on the heels of the shocking case of Asia Bibi, the 45-year-old Pakistani Christian woman and mother of five who has been sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy, and in whose defence Punjab Governor Salman Taseer lost his life, comes the case of another Christian woman who has been charged with blasphemy under the country’s law that has been condemned around the world. Hardline Muslim clerics and landlords of the village Rana near Wandu, threatened to torch the homes of every Christian in the community and abduct Christian girls over the love affair of a Christian boy and Muslim girl. The situation became horrible for local Christians in Rana village and Wandu village as Muslim clerics and local Muslim landlords started to threaten Christian villagers. They also threatened dire consequences including forcibly evicting the local Christians from the villages; and most terrorizing of all the threats was to abduct Christian girls and rape them. Pray: against the persecution of believers in this community and throughout Pakistan. (Ac.4:29) More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11030036.htm
Pakistan: Muslims murder Christian family
09 Oct 2010
Islamic extremists killed Edwin Paul, a Christian lawyer and evangelist, his wife and their five children at their home in north-western Pakistan because he mounted legal challenges against a Muslim charging a Christian exorbitant interest. A Muslim neighbour said that the previous day armed men stopped Paul, took him by the collar and said, 'Leave the town in 24 hours. We know how to throw out Christians; we will not allow even a single Christian to live here. We will hang them all in the streets so that no Christian would ever dare to enter the Hazara land.’ Hazara are settlers to the area from northern Pakistan and they financially support Islamic extremist groups. They are known for charging up to 400 percent interest to Christians. The Paul family had moved to the area in February. Pray: that the Christians in Pakistan would be protected, strengthened and emboldened as they bring about His justice and ask God to remove the spiritual cloud of Islam over the nation. (Is.51:4-6) More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=34336&PN=1&TPN=1
An evangelist is still recovering from burns after six young Muslim men beat him with clubs and belts and set him on fire last month. Area Christians said they found the Rev. Wilson Augustine, aged 26, unconscious with burns on his head, hand and arm on Nov. 22 near the bus stop on the outskirts of Sargodha. Christian elders of nearby villages said that Augustine was distributing pamphlets and proclaiming Christ door-to-door the previous day among Christian families of local villages when the sons of a powerful local land owner saw one of the pamphlets. Augustine later identified the six who attacked him but police decline to name the suspects in the attempted murder. Augustine’s father reported the assault to the local police station, but the registrar was reluctant to file a case against the sons of a wealthy, powerful land owner. Pray: for God to faithfully lead and protect the Christians in Pakistan as they proclaim His name. (Ps.18:30) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/pakistan/29641/
The chief lawyer defending Christian women who were reportedly sexually abused by activists of Pakistan's ruling party said that Muslim militants have threatened to kill him if he and his legal team continue with this case or others, including attacks on a Christian neighbourhood and rape. Sardar Mushtag Gill, who heads the Legal Evangelical Association Development group said he and a friend were forcibly stopped at gunpoint by three armed men last Sunday when returning from meeting the mistreated women and their family to discuss presenting a petition asking the Pattoki Court to detain the suspects, who have been linked to the governing Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N). He explained that sisters Arshad Bibi, Sajida Bibi and Sauriya Bibi, were abused by armed men and an influential landlord because goats owned by the women allegedly entered the landlord’s fields and damaged crops. (See Prayer Alert 13th June)
Pray: that the Christians' complaint will be upheld and the aggressors brought to justice pray for the protection of Human Rights Defenders in Pakistan. (Ps.86:14-17)
Pakistan: May 11th elections violence
02 May 2013There have been many who have tried to disrupt the free elections and cause confusion in the run up to Pakistan’s elections on May 11th. A Christian living in the country has a sked us to ‘Pray that men and women of peace will be placed in office and those who are elected will be respected by the people, even if they disagree with their politics.’ From 1st January to 21st April this year 1,536 individuals have been killed and 1,263 sustained injuries as the result of terrorism in Pakistan. In the last eight days 55 individuals were killed and over 120 injured in bombings of election meetings, candidates offices and targeted killing of candidates. The visible election campaign can only be seen in Punjab and all these blasts are part of the agenda of weakening democracy and depriving representatives from coming into power.
Pray: for better security during the upcoming elections through wisdom and watchfulness of political leadership, security agencies and police. (Ps.34:14)
More: http://asiantribune.com/node/62418
Pakistan: Making a stand against terrorism
12 Oct 2013Muslims in Pakistan formed a human shield Sunday at a church in Lahore to protect Christians from terrorist attacks. It was the second such demonstration in a week following a similar display of Muslim-Christian unity in Karachi. Christians are 3% of the Muslim-dominated 180 million. Recently suicide bombers blew themselves up at a church killing 80 and injuring 130. A group called Jundullah claimed responsibility saying it would continue to target non-Muslims in Pakistan until drone strikes ceased. ‘The terrorists showed us what they do on Sundays’ said Mohammed Jibran Nasir, organizer of the humanchain protest. ‘Here we are showing them what we do on Sundays. We unite. I see no reason why our politicians and our leaders should not come out of their houses, leave the luxury of their secure homes and stand in solidarity with the common man.’
Pray: that Christians in Pakistan will show a bold testimony to those around them. Pray for protection for Christians facing intimidation and threats.
Pakistan: Humanitarian crisis
21 Aug 2010
Tens of thousands of villages are still underwater with 17 million acres of desperately needed crops wiped out. This will mean food shortages in the near future for a country so poor that it is dependent on foreign aid to get by even in the good years. Eight million of the 20 million affected have yet to see any aid, and angry citizens complain their government is failing them by not getting them food or transportation. Private boat owners are taking people through the floodwaters, but charging so much that few Pakistanis can pay. Pray: that neither greed nor compromise thrives in Pakistan, but rather a spirit of humble service would be birthed and permeate throughout disaster relief. (Mt.5:7) More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2010/August/Food-Shortages-Next-for-Pakistan-Flood-Victims/
Pakistan: Groups intent on inciting violence
28 Jun 2010
The gateway town of Jhang (the name means war) gives access for the Taliban and al-Qaeda into the west of Pakistan and into Afghanistan. The group Sipah-e-Sahaba, (Warriors of God) have their headquarters in Jhang, and are feared so much that many will not mention their name, calling them ‘green hats’ (turbans). In President Musharraf’s time they were banned and splintered into three groups to disguise themselves. They are now reforming openly as one group. They know there is a spiritual power which they serve, believing it gives them protection. This is making them unusually bold, travelling to Sind and Karachi outside their Punjab homeland. They are the group claiming responsibility for many attacks in the Punjab where Christians and their villages were destroyed. Some of their attacks have been to incite hatred against ethnic groups. (See Prayer Alert 2709) Pray: for God’s intervention in confrontational situations and for His Spirit to protect and lead Christians at this time. (2 Tim.1:7)