Death Threat to LEAD's Director, Advoacte Sardar Mushtaq Gill

A Christian advocate's life is in danger for attempting to help women who were forcibly abused by Muslim extremists.

LEAD Director, Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill

(PATTOKI, Pakistan) - Yesterday at about 14:30 PM (Sunday, 23 June, 2013) LEAD Director, Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill was allegedly threatened by three anonymous armed men when he was coming back home with his friend on motor bike from Pattoki to Bhai Pheru after meeting with the victim family of Village Sereser Chak, where a few days ago, a heart breaking incident took place; Christian women were attacked and paraded naked by a mob of Muslims. Gill visited the family and told them that LEAD would file petition on Monday 24, June 2013 in Pattoki Court for direction to arrest the alleged accused.

On June 4, Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill, National Director at LEAD (Legal Evangelical Association Development) was asked by the Rev. Saleem Gill to give legal aid and assistance to the harassed family. Advocate Gill visited the victims and collected the details of the case and approached the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Pattoki for the registration of the case. Consequently an FIR (First Incident Report) was registered against the landlord and his henchmen under numbers 231/13 of Section of 452, 354, 337/FI, 149,148 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Instead, the police quickly filed a case against the Christians under FIR 234/13 under Section 440, 379, 148, 149 of the PPC on behalf of the landlord. This came as no surprise to the victims as it is a common practice of the local Muslims to create pressure on the Christian community to withdraw FIRs. By 19 June 2013, this news spread through all Pakistani and international social and print media after publishing by The Asian Human Rights Commission ( AHRC), and (Daily Times).

"We were forcibly at gunpoint stopped at Bypass Multan road and threatened to (be) killed and they open the FIR in air", Gill said.

"I am confused that they did not tell any thing else they just terrified us by their deadly act", said Gill.

"We are not cowards, we will not stop to do which we were assigned by Jesus to do and to fulfill His Mission in Pakistan", added Gill.

LEAD has also petitioned in Lahore High Court Lahore to cancel the bail granted to the alleged "Muslim extremists" of the Bedami Bagh incident in which the next hearing date is set for 27 June, 2013 in the Honor able DB of LHCL (VOP).

LEAD also opposed the bail petition of rape case FIR NO 22/13 in The LHCL on 14 June, 2013 in which the Honorable Court ordered the dismissal of a bail petition of the alleged accused.

Lives of Minorities Rights defenders and supporters of the Persecuted Church are in danger at the hands of depressors and extremists elements. Salman Taseer, the flamboyant and high-profile Governor of Punjab, was gunned down  on Tuesday 4 January, 2011 by one of his own security guards.

Shahbaz Bhatti photo: telegraph.co.uk

Federal Minister for Minority affairs Shahbaz Bhatti was killed in the I-8/3 area of Islamabad on Wednesday morning, 2 March 2011, by three unidentified gunmen.

"I and LEAD team know what is the meaning of cross and we are  following the cross and we are ready to sacrifice for the cause," said Gill.

"We know the militants mindset and who are against the Christian faith, are making such cowardly plans," Gill.
LEAD urgent prayer request:

LEAD requests you to remember the whole team of LEAD in your prayers and specially LEAD's director Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill, pray that God gives wisdom, courage and bravery to face such kinds of threats and attacks with smiling faces. Give your hands in this noble cause which LEAD has started and support in making some arrangements of security measures etc.