Sad Day for Salvation Army and Church in Pakistan

The BPCA is appalled to discover a case last month when a Salvation Army church drove out a pastor they disliked by registering a blasphemy case against him alleging he had defiled a bible, and acted like Muslims in forming a murderous and baying mob outside the police station where their pastor was held.

The background is one that would be familiar to some evangelical pastors in the West, but in Pakistan it took on a murderous tinge.

The pastor, Asghar Nizam Ranjha, was appointed by the Salvation Army about a year ago to pastor the congregation in Ferozewala, a satellite town just to the north of Lahore.  However, he found that one family, that of Mushtaq Masih, was effectively in control, refusing entry and attendance to anyone they didn't like.  They did this because their ancestors had donated the land on which the church was built, and so the family considered that they 'owned' it.  The pastor sought to put a stop to this activity, and the family didn't like it.  They complained four times over the year to Salvation Army to try and get the pastor transferred, but when that didn't work, the family decided to take the route of blasphemy and accused him of defiling a bible in the church to force him to leave.

Mushtaq Masih complained when talking to a journalist that the pastor was 'arrogant' and didn't mingle with the pastors of the other churches in the area, but refused to discuss the blasphemy allegations.   In any case, he stirred up many other members of the congregation and they formed a baying mob around the police station when the police called in the pastor and his accusers.  The police officer said that the pastor's manner was a 'bit harsh' but that there was no evidence that he defiled a bible.  However, saying it was the only way to avoid a violent incident, he urged the pastor to apologize and flee the area to save his own life, which the pastor did.  He had to leave the police station under police protection and was unable even to go home to collect his belongings.  The Salvation Army has transferred him and his wife and children have joined him.  He is reported to be debating whether he dare risk returning to the rented house to get his families belongings.

Mushtaq Masih menacingly told journalists 'One thing is certain. He must never return to the area, otherwise he himself will be to blame for any harm that comes to him.'

Wilson Chowdhry, BPCA chairman, said 'I was absolutely appalled when this story was brought to my attention.  When Christians act in a way that is indistinguishable from their Muslim persecutors, it is in effect a blasphemy against Christ.  When this man drives out a pastor and blames and threatens deadly violence against the victim of his false blasphemy accusations, how is he any different from Islamic extremists and thugs and crooks who do the same?  What kind of a message does this give?  How can we rebuke and call to account Muslim perpetrators and persecutors when Christians are doing this to themselves?'

BPCA trustee Nathanael Lewis added 'The fact that this man registered a case and got the police involved directly contradicts the teaching of Scripture, where we are supposed to resolve disputes among ourselves.   Christians are supposed to be a light in society, we are supposed to be bearers of a ministry of reconciliation, ambassadors for the Messiah who reconciles all things, but how can we do this, and how can we act and speak for you if you are fighting each other?  I have personally seen in the UK the damage that domineering influential church members can do to pastors, but to bring blasphemy charges is absolutely abominable and Mushtaq Masih should repent of his wickedness.  From the reports, even worse, he has involved others in his rebellion against the standards for behaviour set in the bible and without repentance will face God on judgement day.  Even if a pastor did defile the bible in some way, what is more defiling to the body of Christ is the divisive and violently rebellious behaviour against instituted authority shown here.  

The BPCA has called out against corruption by certain church leaders and Christian politicians.  At this point, we should warn Christians of the danger of acting like Muslims, and although we have not mentioned it publicly to this point, we also condemn incidents of honour killings among Christians.  They are thankfully very few, but even one is a stain on the honour of the Pakistani church and a direct contradiction of everything Christ taught.  We should remember that judgement begins in the house of God, according to the bible, and tremble.  Given this fact, and given the fact that so much of the Pakistani church, both in Pakistan and in abroad have a reputation for disunity, tribalism and other unsavoury behaviour that mirrors that of Pakistani society, we call on Pakistani churches to fast and repent, because what good is the cross of Christ if we do not live worthy of it?  We are supposed to have the opposite spirit to that of the world, not ape the world.  For a true work of God in Pakistan, there must be radical change in large sections of the church there.  We need to have true standards of excellence, unity and love.'

Source

Cleric threats lead to evacuation of Shibli Town, Lahore.

A Christian community of 70 homes have evacuated the area after a Muslim cleric warned then that retribution would be taken against the community after Friday prayers, following an alleged incident, in which a youth is said to have urinated in the ablution area of a mosque.

Some families have chosen to remain in their homes and have promised to take care of other locked property, as they had a death in the family and have to remain for death rites.  A full story is printed in the Express Tribune:

http://tribune.com.pk/story/521688/on-tenterhooks-christians-fear-attack-amid-clerics-threat/

BPCA delivers food packages to dispossessed families of Badami Bagh

BPCA volunteers joined Shamim Masih to deliver food packages every tent in St Joseph's colony.

ISLAMABAD PAKISTAN (Shamim Masih): 

The BPCA met with the dispossessed Christians of St Joseph's colony to deliver food and encourage victims of the incident.

My fellow Christian Journalists, Tariq Chaman, editor daily Punjab Express and Imtiaz Chughtai volunteered to join me in providing help to this innocent community and in sharing news of their suffering.  Mr. Yasoob Bhatti from Lahore prepared the food to deliver to residents before we left, as cooking utensils and facilities are not available to all the affected people yet.  

We reached there at 1800 hours and Mr. Yasoob Bhatti, with his team were waiting for us. His team members include Zeeshan Bhatti, Ejaz Khokhar Lads, Sagar Javed, Sarang Javed, and Shiraz Bhatti. 

As soon as we reached there, we went to Sawan’s family tent. There we found his mother, Bilo and his sister Bushra and a brother.  We started off our mission with some prayer for the Blasphemy victims family. We ensured that people could see that we started off the distribution from this tent as we wanted to ensure people understood that this family is not to blame for the situation.  So far the community have been very respectful and caring towards the family and no disputes have occurred nor blame laid on Sawan.

We found that more than 178 families were settled down in tents in different streets. They are all scattered in different areas and though we usually set up one base and distribute our aid from there, we we decided to visit each resident in their individual tents. More than 200 food packets were distributed among the needy people of Badami Bagh.

Bushra bibi, sister of Sawan Masih (accused of blasphemy case) said;  

"Thank you for the  food packages, we have been hungry and have no sources of income, as our men are to scared to go to work, where they will be threatened."  She added; 

"we want to see our brother, who is alone in the jail and nobody is taking care of his case. I have heard a cleric say that they (Muslims) will hang him." 

Naila bibi, a young lady, was very happy when she received her food packet and said;

"We have been here in tents and very few people have reached to us. I request my Christians around the world to step in to help us in restoration."

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Sardar Masih, father of five young children, said;

"It’s hard to survive in this sort of situation, but we are here and now our future generation is suffering from cruelty from our Muslim Neighbours" 

There is a desperate need for cooking utensils and equipment, families also require proper bedding, a source of clean water and some temporary maintained toilet facilities.  Families seek prayer and have no church building to worship in, they are seeking a  large tent for church services.  We pray that God will provide for the needs of this innocent community.

A prayer was held at Sawan's family home before the distribution.

Families live in tiny tents with no privacy or toilet facilities since the attack.

Christians who lived in abject poverty but held pride in their small homes, are now sleeping in tents

The volunteers who joined shamim in supporting victims of Badami Bagh.

Food packages were provided to every individual in the community.

Young and old were visited.

Shamim and the volunteers worked all night.

Young children suffering for no fault of their own caused great pain.

Shamim spoke of the gratefulness of those visited.

Shamim left our banner in a prominent position so residents know we are there to help them through this situation.  These families just need some hope.

Christians told protest again and you will die!

Here is a report on the recent protest in Pakistan by Shamim Masih our officer in Pakistan:


Hundreds Pakistani Christians become homeless in Badami Bagh, Lahore, on Staurday 9th March after an attack by a mob of 3000 Muslim fanatics.  200 homes of Joseph Colony were turned to ashes and poor Christians are now living in the streets, desperate for food and other needs. Their children cannot attend school or  college due to the destruction and fear. Many Residents have expressed great dismay and sorrow and depression is seeping through the entire community.  

Sajid Masih said; 

"I feel helpless and unable to do anything for myself and my family" as he broke into tears before them.

Christians around the country incensed by the recurring theme of a blasphemy allegation followed by teh attack and burning down of our vulnerbale communities, held protest across the country in a concerted effort to vent their disgust at this most recent incident and to show solidarity with the victims.  

In Youhanabad and Kot Lakhpat, Lahore police used this opportunity to beat the innocent Christian protestors, they shot tear gas at them and beat them with sticks.  Yet when the Muslim attack took place they stood back and watched till the town had been razed to the ground.

There were protests in Islamabad, Rawalpindi (10th March), Sialkot, Jhelum (12th March) and Sahiwal (13th March),  to name but a few. 

Jhelum controversy:

Muslims of Jhelum city have threatened to burn Christians home like Joseph Colony Lahore, in response to the protests.  Now the community living there is living in fear of reprisals for their simple act of condemning violence and the blasphemy laws of Pakistan that have been used as a tool for destruction and intimidation. 

According to sources, on March 12, 2013, when Christians of Jhelam city went to protest against the violence in Joseph Colony, chanting slogans “Repeal Blasphemy Law” and “Blasphemy law is Black Law”. Local Imams preached hatred from their mosque loudspeakers calling Muslims to gather together and  punish those Christians who were decying the  Blasphemy law.  Local radicals have pressured the area police station to lodge a First Investigation Report – FIR under 295-C PPC, against Christians who chanted slogans against the blasphemy laws.

Basharat Khokhar, a human rights activist told us that there were around 26 Christian families living among the large Muslim population of Machine 2 mahallah, since partition. The local Christians arranged their protest to show their solidarity with Christians of Joseph Colony, Lahore, and Mr. George Masih led the protest rally. They obtained permission from the District Police Officer (DPO) who provided them with security. There were 250 people in the protest rally. The next day, Muslims demanded the arrest of George Masih and called for the registration of an FIR against him. 

Sialkot:

According to Pastor Naeem Bhadhar, a Presbyterian missionary living in a village KALASWALA, Pasroor Road, district Sialkot, 140 km away from Lahore city. He told me on telephone that he had arranged a protest rally in their city but today on 14th March, 2013, when he was travelling back to his village a few radical Muslims from Jammat ut Dawa (a Muslim organization) severely beaten him with sticks and destroyed his motorcycle. He has been severely injured and was taken to hospital and has had a number of  stitches on his left arm. He has been warned by the extremist group, that if any Christians organise further protests, they will be killed!

Wilson Chowdhry Chairman of the BPCA said;


"The quality of life for Pakistani Christians has reached a nadir, this recent attack on Badami Bagh is unwarranted and a blight on the nation."  St Joseph's community have been left destitute and homeless and when other Paksitani Christian communities decried this treatment, they have been savagely attacked by police authorities and threatened by local Imams.  Yet police failed to intervene when 200 Christian homes and two churches were being raised to the ground?  He added;

"This dual standard response has illustrated how minorities are regarded as worthless anathema, in a nation that has espoused the demonization of any non-Muslims in their educational textbooks and media.  Blame for the continuing extremism in Pakistan therefore lies firmly in the hands of the political leaders, whose lack of equality measures has resulted in sectarianism, community schism and opportunists/religious zealots taking advantage of vulnerable minorities. Unless the Government of Pakistan reforms its legal frameworks, constitution and national curriculum to protect and recognise its minorities, the polarisation we see now will eventually manifest as numerous massacres."

Ryan Stanton and Family escape Pakistan

For more information, see here and for background on this victim of Pakistan's diabolical blasphemy law, see here and here.  Thanks to Walid Shoebat and his organization for helping them get away.

Pakistani Police and Imams attack Christians to silence protests!

We have received a report which we share prima facie. It was provided by Imran Anjum and is reproduced in verbatim: 

Recently Police attacked at Christian village in Sahiwal, Pakistan. The DPO has rushed there to resolve the issue police attacked near the Catholic Chruch and more than 20 policemen involved"

Shamim Mahmood has also informed us of Christians in Jhelum who have been threatened by local Imams, who responded to a protest against the Blasphmey law with a call to attack the Christian community living there.  Words of hatred have been preached over the local Mosque PA systems and the Christian community is fearing the worst.  Many Christians have already began to flee the city and those that choose to stay are in a state of deep fear and anxiety.

Please pray for the Christians of Pakistan ah are entering a very dark period of their existence in a country that is becoming increasingly conservative and extreme.

Church in Chains Meets BPCA

Wilson Chowdhry and the wonderful David Turner of Church in Chains.

Today David Turner the founder of Church in Chains in Ireland, paid a visit to our offices to meet with the BPCA.  David is a man who was moved to speak out against the persecution of the church in the 80's responding to the dire situation faced by Russian Christians.  

David worked with us on the global Early Day Motion tabled in several countries across the globe on the 1st anniversary of Shahbaz Bhatti's death.  He has continued to provide guidance and assistance to our fledgling group, sharing the benefits of his years of service.  I cannot begin to tell you the number of times I have called him for advice and prayers and received his gift of time and discipleship.  

A man of strong convictions and a passion for Pakistani Christians, he deserves our prayers and love.