Christians machine-gunned in Karachi

Nasir Masih

Rafi Masih

These are two most recent fatalities of the slow massacre of Christians in Essa Nagri, Karachi.  According to local human rights workers, heavy machine guns and advanced weaponry were used in the attack.  Naturally, the community is even more depressed and distraught, even though an FIR has been lodged, as they don't expect any action, just like there has been none in the last two fatal attacks this month, due to police being intimidated by the strength of the terrorists in the area.
Liaquat Munawir of MASS called for police to search the area around Essa Nagri to seek out the perpetrators.  He is also calling on all human rights and Christian groups as well as governments and the UN to put pressure on the Pakistani Government to protect the Christians in Essa Nagri.

Wilson Chowdhry of the BPCA said;

"The lawlessness in Karachi is already well documented, yet in recent weeks it seems that what little rule of law existed in the region, has now been completely removed. Suffering Christians of Essa Nagri seem to be the worst hit community in the area.  The large amount of extortion money that has been exacted from them has left many penniless and homeless and others simply biding time till the same fate befalls them.  Unless the government intervenes to assist this beleaguered community, I fear that just like the former population of Jews living in Karachi, Christians will be forced to flee entirely.  Their their possessions and property will simply be looted and usurped by the avarice Muslim mobs already calling for their complete annihilation."

Source - Pastors / Human Rights workers in Karachi

More attacks on Karachi Christians

We have received more information about that brutal attack on Ashfaq Munawar in Karachi from a family member, the Rev Eric Sarwar, that we posted about a few days ago. Further information says that not only did the attackers establish if he was a Christian, but if he was the Rev Sarwar's relative before they beat him and left him for dead. Thinking they had killed him, the attackers fired in the air. When the police came to investigate, they also beat the victim before dragging him to a police station and leaving him without medical attention.

Rev Sarwar asks for prayer for all his family, as they are severely traumatized. Also for the victim's surgery on his jaw which should be in the next few days, and money to help fund the medical bills that will arise.

This is the 3rd attack on his family in just over 2 years. In June 2009, he was kidnapped by armed Muslim fundamentalists, but managed to escape. At Easter last year, there was an attack against his parents and wife whilst he was out of the country.

I have known the Eric for some time. He is a faithful minister of Christ, who has worked hard in a number of areas, including building up the church in Karachi, helping with aid for flood victims, and building up children's work and worship abilities in the church across Pakistan. No doubt this is one reason he is such a target, and he and his family urgently need our prayers.

He has also reported that this weekend in Karachi there has been yet another attack on Christians which has not been repeated in the media at all. Here is what he said :

'A funeral bus full of christian mourners (has) been attacked by open gun fire on saturday at Sohrab Goth, while they were coming from Bhuto colony graveyard toward Ayub Goth. Lots of innocent christians have been injured by open fire. No media coverage and no help & support by any government.'

Please make this incident more widely known. I know there are journalists in national media who read these pages. I know there is a lot going on in the world, but the incessant attacks on Christians in Pakistan and the police brutality needs to be more widely known. We are funding this government to the tune of millions of pounds of taxpayers money. The human rights of Christians and other minorities needs to be a condition of the aid we give, otherwise we are supporting these abuses with UK citizen's tax money by default.