Pakistani Pastor Attacked by Muslim Extremist Group

The government says religious extremist groups are banned, but they still exist.

Farrukh A Saif is seen in Allied Hospital, Faisalabad with the Pastor

(ISLAMABAD, Pakistan) - The government of Pakistan has put an absolute ban on as many as 45 political and religious groups in a short span of just 11 years which clearly speaks of the violation of their self made notions of human rights, freedom of expression and sense of tolerance.

According to the official reports, the government has outlawed 45 organizations since 2001.

Officially say they are banned but practically speaking, those extremist groups are active personally and they fan the flames of intolerance by proclaiming that they are landlord of this country.

One of the example is Muhammad Khalid Chishti (a cleric in Islamabad who apparently attempted to set up the little girl Rimsha in a blasphemy case that received much attention. He claimed in his interview to different daily English papers, and to me personally, that the local Christian community had previously caused antagonism by playing music in services at their makeshift church during Muslims prayer time……….. I warned them but they did not stop.” (Express Tribune Islamabad. 25th August, 2012)

Nabeel Hussain of Faisalabad is another example. He has been threatening the local Pastor Baber Bhatti of the same kind of stance.

He didn’t stop on this and attacked Pastor Baber, who is in-Charge of Presbyterian Church on 30th September, when Pastor Baber was on the way back to his home after preaching in the local families. Nabeel with his companion started firing at Baber, two bullets were fired and Baber fell down and both escaped from the spot. Local people gathered and called a rescue team, who took him to the nearest Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, where he is under treatment.

Local police, who are always reluctant in these cases didn’t pay any attention to minority groups, they did the same as before, playing delay tactics in registering a First Investigation Report (FIR).

World Vision in Progress (WVIP), reports having filed a petition against the officials for showing negligence in the case and of their biased attitude.

WVIP is providing medical and legal aid to the Pastor and his family. Talking on the telephone, Farrukh A Saif from WVIP said that WVIP always try to reach where Christians are being persecuted and they were ready to provide legal and financial help to the needy people the country.

WVIP representatives are also receiving threats from different groups in the relevant cases.

Farrukh A Saif also requested the Christians community to pray for the Pastor Baber and his family and for WVIP so that they can better provide help to the needy ones.

About Shamim Masih

"I am Christian rights activist and freelancer Pakistani journalist specializing in writing about Christians rights for the different papers in the world. My aim is to create a peaceful environment in the society and to help eliminate Christian persecution through my writing as I bring the plight of these brave people under the spotlight of the whole world."

Shamim Masih was born in Sheikhopura's village and raised in Gujranwala, a city in Pakistan's Punjab province. He earned his Bachelors Degree from the University of the Punjab, Lahore majoring in English, Economics and Statistics; he also received a Masters Degree in Business Administration.

As a freelance writer and author, Shamim has written for different papers in the world; his expertise is in writing articles highlighting different social issues. He has served as freelance chief reporter and column writer in “Minority Times” in Islamabad, and a number of Shamim's articles have been published in local papers as well.

You can write to Shamim at this address: shamimpakistan@gmail.com