Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin – No. 255 – Wed 21 Jan 2004

———————————— PAKISTAN: CHRISTIANS VERY VULNERABLE plus Vietam Update ————————————

On Thursday 15 January 2004 at 3.15pm, terrorists attacked the Pakistan Bible Society which is located on the premises of Trinity Church, Saddar, Karachi. Police had received an anonymous phone call warning that the Bible Society would be targeted, and shortly after police officers arrived to investigate, assailants on motorcycles rode past and lobbed grenades into the society’s reading room. Two Christian staff members, Frederick Masih and Peter Pervaiz, received serious shrapnel injuries as the windows were blown in. This grenade attack drew a large crowd that included employees of the Bible Society and the church, as well as security officials. Exactly 15 minutes later, a high-powered bomb exploded in a car parked in front of the Bible Society. Whilst 13 were injured, it is amazing that no one was killed. This attack was sophisticated and calculated.

Pakistani police have arrested Shamim Ahmed (25), a militant of the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi group, for his suspected involvement in the bomb explosion. Police also recovered a huge cache of bombs with detonators, parcel bombs, locally made grenades, remote controls, wireless sets, automatic guns, explosive material, and maps of churches, Christian institutions and other important places.

Previously, on 5 January, Pakistani pastor, Rev. Mukhtar Masih (50), left home at 3am to catch a train to Lahore. Minutes later he was murdered, shot twice in the chest at close range at the Khanewal Railway Station, 180 miles southwest of Lahore. Robbery is ruled out as a motive as none of his cash or personal belongings were stolen. He leaves behind a wife, a son and six daughters. The son reported that his father had recently been receiving death threats from local Muslim extremists.

President Musharraf has promised to tackle domestic terrorism. But that involves radical things like madrassa reform, curriculum reform, stopping the finance of terrorists, closing down extremist Islamist groups, upholding religious liberty in all provinces, and enforcing rights, justice and rule of law according to the constitution. However, he relies on the MMA – a coalition of six Islamist pro-Sharia, pro-Taliban, anti-West parties that hold the balance of power in Pakistan – to retain power and get motions through parliament. The MMA are pushing for the full Islamisation of Pakistani society. On Sunday 18 January the MMA renewed their drive to advance their cause: the enforcement of Sharia law nationwide in accordance with the recommendations of the Islamic Ideology Council. The government is compromised by its dependence on the MMA. Pakistan’s Christians are extremely vulnerable.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:

* recovery for Frederick Masih, Peter Pervaiz and others of the Pakistan Bible Society and Trinity Church, and peace and provision for the grieving family of Rev. Mukhtar Masih.

* President Musharraf to have the conscience and courage to take those radical steps that are necessary to make Pakistan safe, secure and truly free.

* the Christians of Pakistan, that they will not shy away in fear, but will draw closer to God and be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to live lives of faith and faithfulness in the midst of persecution, for the glory of God.

‘The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, and he will be your sanctuary.’ (sanctuary: Hebrew = miqdas, holy place where God dwells.) Isaiah 8:13,14a.

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SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ———————————————————— CHRISTIANS VERY VULNERABLE IN PAKISTAN

On 15 January 2004 terrorists attacked the Pakistan Bible Society in Karachi. After drawing police to the site, attackers lobbed grenades into the Bible Society reading room, inflicting serious shrapnel injuries on two staff members. Exactly 15 minutes later a car bomb exploded, injuring 13 of the large crowd drawn by the grenade attack. On 5 January, Pakistani pastor Rev. Mukhtar Masih (50) was murdered as he waited for a train around 3am. He was shot in the chest at close range. He had been receiving death threats from local Islamic militants. President Musharraf has promised to crack down on domestic terrorism, but his political alliance with the Islamist MMA leaves him compromised and Christians extremely vulnerable.

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VIETNAM TRIAL POSTPONED

News was received that Pastor Bui Van Ba’s trial (RLP 254) was postponed less than 24 hours before it was due to start. Reportedly, this was because a judge was unable to attend. This is a helpful development, and Christian leaders in Vietnam are continuing to call for prayer, while pressing for the case to be dropped.

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The WEA Religious Liberty Commission sponsors this RL Prayer List to help individuals and groups pray specifically and regularly for religious liberty issues, and in particular to uphold the Church where it is suffering persecution.

RL Prayer is moderated by Ron Clough, a commissioner of the WEA RLC and convenor of the Australian EA RLC.

Elizabeth Kendal researched and authored this message.

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