Pakistani Christians across the UK made their way to Nottingham to condemn the violence and persecution faced by minorities in Pakistan. Peacemakers brought focus to the Lahore Twin Bomb attack that has currently resulted in 19 deaths and 80 casualties. They also described their frustrations that Pakistan’s media failed to highlight that two men beaten to death by hysterical and frenzied Christians after the explosions, had already been arrested by police officers as gunmen involved in teams of three containing one suicide bomber. Instead the biased media focused only on the rioting of a small number and the killing of the two ‘more valuable Muslim’ men, which has created greater animosity against the Christians of Youhanabad and resulted in threats being made to local churches.
Christians have been fleeing the community to live with relatives and their empty homes have been looted by local Muslims. Moreover, police arrests are said to have been excessive and police officers are extorting money out of families, for the release of young Christian men, even those they know to be innocent. Many police have told the community that the payments are an unlawful Jizya tax that is enshrined in Islamic Sharia law as a tax on non-Muslims for their protection. Police have told families the tax is a consequence of killing two Muslims. The Government of Pakistan has done nothing to curb this victimisation. Despite ratifying the UN International Convention against Torture, in 2010, police torture is still rife with little practical change to stop the mistreatment of prisoners. Christian families have been unable to contact their sons who have been arrested, and they fear that they are being tortured in secret locations.
The plight of Christians in Pakistan also was highlighted as they are afforded a very low status and there is a desperate need for them to escape the tortuous conditions they are enduring in Pakistan. There are 19,722 Pakistani Christians in the UK, making up only a small section of immigrations to the UK. This is largely due to the fact that the majority are illiterate and cannot afford a student or highly skilled migrant visa. Pak-Christians are calling on the UK to follow suit with the Dutch government who this year raised the refugee status for victims from this community to gain asylum here. Currently the UKBA send back over 50% of applicants from the Christian community in Pakistan, despite the low number (less than 150 per year for the last 3 years) that have tried to gain asylum here.
The vigil was organised by Nottingham Asian Christians in conjunction with the British Pakistani Christian Association, and Urdu Churches across the country showed their solidarity by travelling from London, Walsall, Coventry and Birmingham.
Special guest Father John Weir, formerly Senior Anglican Chaplain in Dubai, was a guest speaker and spoke of his pain at hearing about this most recent attack, he said:
“Pakistan has become a place of hatred towards Christians, the savage and brutal treatment of our brothers and sisters there, breaks my heart.”
Pervaiz Sardar the key organiser of the event, and a former resident of Youhanabad said:
“When these attacks happen, you expect the police to come to your rescue. Pakistani police were watching the World Cup Cricket match match against Ireland, leaving young Christian volunteer security officers to tackle the extremists. Our young men proudly served their community and gave their lives for others just like our saviour Jesus. They will be remembered.”
Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association, Wilson Chowdhry, condemned the violence that left his extended cousin, a volunteer security officer in a coma, with extensive burns all over his body and numerous broken bones. His cousin Qaisor Pervez (31) held the arms of the suicide bomber up to prevent him triggering the explosive device, while Akash Bashir (16) bear-hugged the attacker. One of the gunmen then shot the device causing the explosion. Qaisor only survived as the proximity of his body with that of Akash acted as a buffer.
Wilson Chowdhry, key partner for the event said:
“The government of Pakistan has failed our community once again. We are easy targets as our community fears and mistrusts local police who often brutalise them or victimise them. They turn a blind eye when we are attacked by Muslim’s and security forces are corrupt and indisciplined.”
A petition will be delivered to the Pak High Commission in London next Saturday calling for better protection of Minority communities, justice for the bomb victims of Lahore, investigation of police malpractice and freedom for all innocent Christians being arrested unlawfully, without payment of Jizya tax.
