Christian demonstrators

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- After Muslim prayer on Friday Oct. 12, a 600 strong mob attacked and damaged a church in the old city area of Karachi.

According to an email from Wilson Chowdhry of the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA), the next day a large number of civil society activists and members of the Christian community held a demonstration, urging the authorities to protect them from the extremists who damaged a church.

BPCA said they also threatened to kill an innocent teenager caught up in a swarm of hatred (www.assistnews.net/Stories/2012/s12100081.htm).

According to BPCA, hundreds of Christians braved the animosity directed towards them to vent their frustrations against the injustice they suffer. The protesters chanted slogans and demanded security for the minority communities and their places of worship. They demanded that the attackers be punished under the law.

Glassless windows following the attack.

BPCA reported that Father Mohan Victor of the local Catholic Parish Church of St Francis said, “There were two wedding ceremonies being held at our church when the attack commenced. Two hundred to 300 people were attending, when suddenly without warning a big large vehement mob gathered outside the church. The rioters started pelting stones at the church and visitors and attacked us with sticks."

He added, “The mob entered the church compound and smashed the cars and motorcycles parked there. Flowerpots, windows and doors of the church were irreparably damaged.”

BPCA said Father Mohan said as soon as the mob entered the compound, visitors and clergy sought refuge in the church building, hiding upstairs in the dark. They made sure all the lights were off, and no noise could be heard. The attack continued for more than 90 minutes. Everyone prayed silently.

Father Mohan continued, “I called some friends and asked them to get the police to our church. Thankfully police arrived soon afterwards. Gunshots were heard from outside the church and the mob dispersed.”

Father Mohan said the attack was entirely unwarranted.

BPCA said that Saleem Khokher a prominent member of the Sindh Assembly, said “When I received a call about the attack on the church, I immediately called the administration and soon after the police arrived there. They dispersed the mob in timely fashion and most effectively. Soon after the attack I reached at the spot and told a police official to launch an FIR (First Information Report.)”

Jeremy Reynalds is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City." Additional details on "Homeless in the City" are available at http://www.homelessinthecity.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net.