Government Should Provide Protection to all the Churches in Pakistan

Includes photos of church that was attacked.

Church Pakistan was attacked in recent days. Photos: Shamim Masih

(ISLAMABAD, Pakistan) - On Friday afternoon, after Jumma prayer, some number of 600 people attacked and damaged a church in the old city area of Karachi.

Windows broken out

Earlier some hundreds of the extremists have set in fire of all the belongings of the Ryan Brain (accused) blasphemy case in the same town.

I travelled to Karachi to know the facts of this case and reached in Karachi on Friday evening.

Next day, on Saturday, a large number of civil society activists and members of Christian community held a demonstration, urging the authorities to protect them from the extremists who attacked and damaged a church.

Earlier on 21st September, a large number of the extremist in thousands had turned into ash the church in Mardan and its compound and school in it.

lace where the statue of marry was placed befoe the attack

Responding Father Mohen Victor of the St Francis Church when asked, he said there were two wedding ceremonies being held and 200 to 300 people were attending them when a big mob gathered outside the church and started pelting stones and attacking it with sticks.

The mob entered the church compound and damaged the cars and motorcycles parked there. Flowerpots, windows and doors of the church were also damaged.

Saleem Khokher (MPA) and Father Mohan Victor and his assistant with Shamim in the church compound

He said that as soon as the mob entered the compound the people gathered in the church went upstairs and turned off the lights.

The attack continued for more than 90 minutes. I called to my contacts outside and police arrived soon afterwards. Gunshots were heard from outside the church and the mob dispersed.

Father Victor said the reason for the attack could not be ascertained.

Saleem Khokher member of the sindh assembly said, when I received a call about the attack on the church, I immediately called up the administration and soon after the police arrived there in time and dispersed the mob. Soon after the attack I reached at the spot and told the official to launch the FIR, he added.

Saleem Khokher and father Mohan Victor with his assistant

Next day on Saturday, Christians arranged a protest against the attack on the church. The protesters chanted slogans and demanded security for the minority communities and their places of worship.

They said the attackers should be brought to book.

Police said they had registered a case against unknown people who had attacked the Catholic Church. (I got the copy of the FIR) will scan it and send you the whole papers today)

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