Pakistani Christians Worldwide Protest Gojra Killings

Dan Wooding and Sheraz Khurram Khan | ASSIST News Service | Updated: Aug 10, 2009

Pakistani Christians Worldwide Protest Gojra Killings


August 11, 2009

ONTARIO, CANADA (ANS) --Canadian Pakistani Christians on Saturday (August 8) assembled in front of Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Queen’s Park under the aegis of the International Christian Voice (ICV) to condemn recent incidents of violence against Pakistani Christians.

Christians in India also protested in front of the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi on Friday, calling for "strong action" against the perpetrators of anti-Christian violence in a memorandum addressed to Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari.

A large number of expatriate Pakistani Christians in Canada including some relatives of the victims of Gojra violence along with representatives of churches, members of human rights organizations and members of parliament participated in the demonstration.

The prominent churches and organizations which backed and joined the Saturday protest demonstration included the Evangelical Asian Church, the New Covenant Church of Canada, the All Nations Bible Church, the Asian Christian Alliance Church, the South Asian Bible Church, the Cornerstone Asian Church, the Redeemer South Asian Fellowship, Hamilton and the Canadian Christian Association.

Prominent from among demonstrators included Pastor Sarwar Dean, Pastor Alexandra David, Pastor Samuel Gori, Pastor Carol Patrick, Pastor Salim Arthur, Pastor Peter Paul, Pastor Javid Akhtar, Romila Mallo, Pervaiz Masih, President of the International Christian Voice, Sabestian Gill, Shahbaz Sandhu, Tabassum Iqbal, Obeid Newton, Augustine James, human rights activist Mark Parsud and Agnes Tabbasum, Shahid Farooq, Waseem Iqbal and Benett Shahzad.

Addressing demonstrators, the Chairman of the International Christian Voice (ICV), Mr. Peter Bhatti condemned torching of Christians’ houses by extremists and miscreants in Pakistan on August 30 and August 1 in Korian and Gojra respectively.

Mr. Peter said the expatriate Christians and like-minded people had gathered in front of Legislative assembly of Ontario to express their sympathy and solidarity with victims’ families. Eight Pakistani Christians lost their lives as a result of August 1 Gojra carnage.

“We equally share the grief and sorrow of Pakistani Christians and stand with them during this difficult time.

“We have come here to record our protest against the worst kind of brutalities Christians have been subjected to recently”, said ICV chairman Mr.Peter Bhatti.

Terming minorities as “sons of soil”, Mr. Peter Bhatti commended minorities for the role they have played in prosperity, development and integrity of the country.

Minorities’ vital vote in partition of Punjab contributed towards creation of Pakistan, he recalled.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr.Peter Bhatti hailed minorities for their role in the field of medicine. “They have always played a significant role in serving suffering humanity”, he said.

He also praised missionary educational institutions for serving the nation.

Mr. Peter Bhatti emphasized that minorities had always endeavoured for peace and harmony. He regretted that peace-loving, patriotic and innocent Pakistani Christians, who he said have never been involved in any act of terrorism or violence become victims of menace of terrorism.

He said minorities were seen as easy and soft targets by miscreants and extremists.

Mr. Peter Bhatti went on to say: “The incident of Gojra has hampered efforts to promote interfaith harmony and national unity and has tarnished the image of the Pakistan.

“Rumors of disgracing of The Quran (Muslim holy book) have been unnecessarily blown out of proportion.

“Police investigated blasphemy accusations but up to now, they could not find any witness to alleged blasphemy.

“The crime of committing blasphemy has not been proven against a single Pakistani Christian, since this law has been introduced”.

He added: “Gojra and Korian violence is a result of criminal negligence of the police.

“Government of Punjab has failed to protect lives and properties of religious minorities of Pakistan. The Christians of Pakistan would not have suffered deaths if local government had taken timely action."

The Chairman of the International Christian Voice appealed to all human rights organizations, political parties and to all peace loving Canadians and the international community to condemn this heinous act of violence against Christians and stand by the Christians of Pakistan in their pursuit of justice.

“We urge the international community to exercise its influence on the Pakistan government so that they can ensure lives and properties of religious minorities of Pakistan," said Peter Bhatti.

Condemning Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws he said: “We demand that the blasphemy law and other discriminatory laws be repealed. They (the blasphemy laws) are a tool in the hands of those who want to exploit religion to their advantage," he said..

Mr. Peter Bhatti demanded that the culprits behind Korian and Gojra violence should be awarded exemplary punishments according to the law of the land and victims’ families be rehabilitated.

“We Pakistani Canadians demand the rights of minorities should be protected according to the vision of founding father Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and constitutional guarantees given by 1973 constitution," he said.

Copyright 2009 ASSIST News Service

Pakistani Christians Worldwide Protest Gojra Killings