Image of ISIS graffiti in Karachi
In the last couple of days, the Pakistani Army has started warning Christians, churches and other Christian institutions in Pakistan that they are likely to face a wave of attacks from ISIS soon. Apparently the Pakistani military has been purging IS sympathisers from its ranks and is contemplating further military action against extremist strongholds near the Afghanistan border. On occasion, depending on the political situation and orientation, the Pakistani army has intervened against extremists to protect Christians, for instance during the notorious 1997 Shanti Nagar incident in which police en masse openly sided with militants in attacking a Salvation Army village. Now the army appears to be taking a similar position, warning Christians, presumably on the basis of intelligence, that ISIS is likely to start attacks. Indeed, ISIS affiliated groups in Pakistan have publicly made their intentions clear, openly stating that they will attack “infidels” in the nation. They have warned Christian leaders not to meet people unknown to them, and even telling one pastor not to take his usual morning and evening walks.
British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA) chairman Wilson Chowhdry said:
“Whilst in one sense it is heartening that the Pakistani Army is at least giving warnings to church leaders, it should not blind us to the fact that this is in effect a tacit recognition of the utterly vulnerable state of Christians and Christian institutions in Pakistan. Many of the conditions for genocide of Christians have long been in place in Pakistan, and earlier this year the government itself was inciting hatred against Christians, along with the media, in the aftermath of the double church suicide bombing. In the light of the worsening reality reflected in these warnings, our campaign for the Home Office to radically revise its absurd position that Christians in Pakistan are merely discriminated against, but not generally persecuted gains added urgency, and we call on the Home Office to revise its position immediately”.
Please pray:
For protection, strength, courage and God’s favour for Christians in Pakistan
That God will thwart any plans of ISIS to wage terror against Christians or other minorities
The army will fully protect Christians and other minorities from attacks
UK and other western nations will finally wake up and realise that Pak-Christians desperately need their protection and asylum
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