BPCA attending Papal visit 2010

Pakistani Christians welcoming the pope to England!

Juliet and Wilson savouring the atmosphere

The stage was ginormous

Thousands flocked to join in prayer and worship

Haroon Yousaf queuing for a cup of tea...

People making merry...

Brothers Atiq and Wilson modelling Tshirts for the Papal visit!

Declaring the presence of Pakistani Christians!

Enjoying the festivities

The majority of Pakistani Christians are Catholic, although not Catholic ourselves we recognise that the Catholic church is part of a universal body of Christians.

My little daughter Naomi is mesmerised by her sisters flag.

Christian worship by "The Priests"

A massive stage with a large number of dignitaries.

Papal flags filled the air

Gosh let me past...

Crammed in by still a great sense of euphoria

When the pope arrived his message of peace and unity, and prayers fulfilled a wonderful day.

Although not Catholics (barring my brother Atiq)  members of the BPCA obtained tickets to the main stage area in Hyde Park - for the Pope's visit, via a local Catholic Priest.  The event was arranged well and went without any major perturbation, everyone around us was filled with great joy and expectation.  This the first Papal visit in decades created a real stir in Britain.  No one really knew what to expect, or how many people would attend, but the event attracted a huge crowd both inside and outside the venue.   

Merchandise was expensive but with 80% going to charity who could complain.  Moreover, the eloquent if not elderly popes prayers and supplications were said with clarity and great emotion, stirring people into a real positive frenzy and no doubt bolstering the faith of many.  

That such an important Christian religious figure can still attract such crowds and positive attention is a real testament to the Catholic Church.  Whatever people may feel about the catholic institution, globally it is still by far the largest Christian body (1 in 6 people in the world are Catholic).  Moreover, church attendance in the UK is still largely Catholic.  

I was inspired by this visit and the words that gave encouragement to those amassed with me.  Most importantly I was impressed with the elderly Pope, who made great effort to shake hands with people enrourte to the stage, placing himself in danger.

The modern worship music being played at the event dispelled my "hominy hominy" anachronistic perception  of Catholic Services and I may be encouraged to attend a more charismatic Roman Catholic Church, in future.

Finally I will pray for a safe journey back to the pope and pray for guidance from God to a leader of a fellowship that has in recent time undergone much derision and angst.

I should add that Alex and his children arrived to see the pope after my family and I had left  (our 3 month year old child was getting cold) and I will source some pictures from them.  We were all proud to display the Bristish Pakistani Christian Association banner, at an event that warranted our support.

Hammad Singer Redbridge Carnival

Sofiya hayat at Redbridge Carnival 2010

Redbridge Carnival 2010

Foreign Office response to our recent protest and petition submission.

Click to enlarge images!

Great news for all is that the UK Foreign Office is taking our concerns regarding the safety and equality of Pakistani minority faith groups, very seriously.  They have set a demarche on Human Rights to the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs during May 2010.  Moreover they have also publicly declared that an amendment to the Blasphemy Laws of Pakistan will be undertaken and have already started with Consultations.  We will keep you informed of progress.  Please read the letter received form the Foreign office by us on the 27th August 2010.

Letter from Board of Deputies of British Jews - Supporting our last protest.

Click to enlarge

Above is a letter of support that was received from the Board of Deputies for British Jews.  This was read out at the protest held on the 31st of July 2010.  They could not attend as it was their sabbath, however they have always been very supportive of our cause.

Pakistani Christians unwelcome!

Here is an article read on the Barnabus Fund website please share your views:

Concerns grow over discrimination against Christian flood victims in Pakistan

These Christians from Sajawal are staying with relatives after their homes were flooded
Concerns about discrimination against Christians and other minority groups affected by the floods in Pakistan are growing – after Barnabas Fund raised the alarm at the beginning of the crisis.


Nazir S. Bhatti, chairman of the Pakistan Christian Congress, said anti-Christian hatred was preventing aid from reaching many areas and called on the government for funds to be allocated to specific religious minorities.


National Pakistan newspaper Dawn made the issue the subject of an editorial last week following a protest rally in Hyderabad against the maltreatment of minority community flood victims. It said there had been numerous reports of people being refused shelter and discriminated against in the distribution of aid because of their ethnicity, caste or religion. The paper added:


“Discrimination on ethnic and religious grounds is deeply entrenched in Pakistan and will not change overnight. Yet that it is being used as an excuse to strip people of their rights as equal citizens even during a time of calamity is abhorrent.”
“Systematic discrimination”


The Vatican’s news agency, Fides, said Christians and Hindus faced “systematic discrimination” in the distribution of aid, which was “being managed either by government officials sympathetic to Islamic fundamentalism or by Muslim relief organisations.” Fides has been gathering accounts from Christians who have been denied shelter, healthcare and aid because of their faith. A local volunteer said: “The Christian refugees are often ignored. They are purposely not identified and registered. Thus, they are automatically excluded from any health care or food, as they supposedly do not exist.”


Islamic extremists have been quick to step in with flood relief, capitalising on the crisis to win hearts and minds. It has been reported that international aid, including containers of cooking oil donated by Australia, was being distributed at a camp in Sukkur funded by a banned Pakistani militant group. The UN World Food Programme and international aid organisations were giving out supplies at the base, which Jamaat-ud-Dawa – a group blacklisted by Pakistan and the UN as a terrorist front – is said to be supporting.


“Inhumane”


Barnabas Fund warned at the beginning of the crisis that Christian flood victims would be neglected in the distribution of aid (6 August), and has since received reports of discrimination in relief efforts. A group of Christian families who took refuge from rapidly rising flood waters on the top floor of the hospital in Nowshera were left to await rescue shivering and crying while Army helicopters prioritised the evacuation of Muslim families from nearby buildings.


Barnabas Fund targets its support to Christians through Christian partners on the ground to ensure this marginalised community receives the help it needs.


Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund, said:


“It is scandalous and inhumane that Christians and other minority groups in Pakistan are being refused shelter and life-saving provisions during a crisis of this magnitude. We call on the Pakistani government to ensure that all its citizens are treated equally and fairly at this time of crisis and afterwards.”
Please pray


That those who are giving out aid will respond positively to the concerns being raised by minority groups so that every flood victim receives the help they need.
That the international community will put pressure on the Pakistani government to ensure the fair distribution of resources.