Pakistan: Christians defying purge in NW Frontier Province

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Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Pakistan: Christians defying purge in NW Frontier Province
- plus Apostasy Bill passed for review.

By Elizabeth Kendal
World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC)
Special to ASSIST News Service

AUSTRALIA (ANS) -- Despite President Musharraf's assurances and his reported alliance with the West in the War on Terror, religious liberty and security for Pakistan's three percent Christian minority have deteriorated markedly. Many thousands of Islamic madrassas continue to pump out militant and angry Taliban who are fluent in the Quran and hungry for jihad in Afghanistan as well as the Islamisation of Pakistan.

At the root of Pakistan's problem is the pro-Sharia, Islamist Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA: an alliance of six pro-Sharia, Islamist parties), an avowed enemy of secularisation, progress and 'enlightened moderation'. MMA holds the balance of power in Pakistan's National Assembly and President Musharraf frequently makes quid pro quo deals with them to advance his own agenda, which is to stay in power. But by doing this Musharraf is enabling the MMA to advance their agenda, which is the Islamisation of Pakistan.

On 9 May the MMA tabled its Apostasy Act 2006 in Pakistan's National Assembly. Under this Act, a male apostate (one who leaves Islam) would receive the death penalty and a female apostate would be imprisoned for life or until she 'repents'. Apostates would also forfeit their property and lose legal custody of their children. The testimony of two witnesses would be sufficient for a conviction. The National Assembly passed the bill for review by a standing committee. During the same session, the Assembly rejected a draft bill moved by minority member, Mr MP Bhandara, to amend the notorious Blasphemy Law.

The MMA governs Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP), bordering Afghanistan. Islamisation, Taliban and lawlessness are rife. Over recent weeks Islamic militants in NWFP have perpetrated numerous terrorist bombings aimed at purging NWFP of everything un-Islamic. In Charsadda district (154km northeast of the provincial capital, Peshawar) bombs planted in local markets have destroyed numerous video, music and CD stalls and barber shops. Owners of stores trading in the 'un-Islamic' have been ordered to close or 'suffer dire consequences'. Female students in neighbouring Mardan district have been threatened if they keep attending school. Girls Higher Secondary School at Gumbat was bombed in the early morning of 4 May. On Tuesday 15 May a suicide bomber killed at least 25 people in a restaurant in Peshawar. Strapped to the leg of the bomber was a message in Pashto that included the warning: 'Those who spy for America will face this same fate.'

Some 500-600 Christians live in Charsadda district. Last week their churches were issued hand-written letters in Urdu with the ultimatum that Christians had ten days to close their churches and flee. Any who stayed and did not convert to Islam would suffer the consequences. While some families have reportedy fled, others despite their fear have declared publicly that they will not flee and will not convert. Security has been tightened and uniformed and plainclothes police are providing protection and patrolling local churches.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR GOD TO -

protect and 'set at liberty' the Christians of NWFP, especially those in Charsadda district where Christians have been specifically targeted and threatened. 'Our Father in heaven ... deliver us from evil.' (Luke 4:18 ESV; Matthew 6:13)
intervene and overrule in the standing committee's deliberations over the MMA's Apostasy Act 2006: may God's purposes prevail. 'I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.' (Job 42:2)
do a great work in Pakistan, giving 'sight to the blind' so that Pakistanis will see the ugliness of hate and repression, and the beauty of peace and liberty. (Luke 4:18)
mercifully liberate and enlighten many captive hearts and minds, miraculously enabling them to reject Islamisation and embrace truth; 'Salvation belongs to the Lord.' (Jonah 2:9)

Elizabeth Kendal is the Principal Researcher and Writer for the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC) www.worldevangelical.org/rlc.html. This article was initially written for the WEA RLP(Religious Liberty Prayer) mailing list

Elizabeth can be contacted by e-mail at rl-research@crossnet.org.au.

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