Pakistan - Christian Persecution in Pakistan

Asia: Pakistan

Country Report Last Updated: July 2003

Code: A-2, 3; B-1

(Click here for a code description.)

(Source: CIA World Fact Book 2002)

• The constitution sets up Islam as the state religion.
           
• Members of a religious minority are barred from ever holding the office of President or Prime Minister by the constitution.
         

• Conversions are not illegal but proselytizing among Muslims is prohibited.
            
• Local law enforcement officials commonly fail to take precautions against Islamic extremists abusing religious minorities or to investigate and prosecute those responsible for such actions.
             
• All Pakistani citizen are subject to a form of shari'a law, which was introduced in 1991. These laws are based on Islamic laws and are not supposed to apply to non-Muslims. Despite this fact, these laws have been applied in disputes between Muslims and non-Muslims.
           
• In a court of law, a Christian man's testimony is worth half of a Muslim man's and a Christian woman's testimony is worth only a quarter. As a result, many Christian women are raped and not able to obtain convictions against the perpetrators. Quite often, the victim is charged with having illicit sexual intercourse.
          

• A high court ruling stated that if a woman converts to Islam, her marriage, performed according to the rites of her previous faith, is null and void. There have been reports of this law being exploited by individuals abducting young women and forcing them to convert to Islam.
             
• A law currently on the books, Section 295(c) of the Penal Code, applies a death sentence to anyone who defiles the name of the Prophet Mohammed. This law only requires the testimony of four Muslims for a conviction. It is laws like this and the lack of proper law enforcement that encourages an environment were Muslims feel free to use intimidation and violence against religious minorities for personal gain as illustrated above.

• July 5, 2003 - Roman Catholic priest, Rev. George Ibrahim, was killed outside of his parish in Renala Khurd, district Okara, 180 miles south of Islamabad. Very early in the morning, Rev. Ibrahim heard a noise outside of the parish and went to go investigate. A cook heard gunshots and ran outside to find Rev. Ibrahim dead. The local Christian community believes that Ibrahim was targeted because he helped the church to regain control of a Catholic school that had been seized by the government during the 1970s when private schools were nationalized. Ibrahim was also known to speak out on behalf of the poor Christian community.
     
• June 15, 2003 - A committee in Baluchistan province is drafting up a sharia bill to be considered in the provincial assembly. The bill is supported by the Islamist MMA political party that holds power in Baluchistan. A similar bill has already been passed in the North West Frontier Province. (ANS/Barnabad Fund)
     
• June 4, 2003 - Aslam Masih, a Christian accused of blasphemy, was acquitted by the Lahore High Court. Masih had been handed a double life sentence and a fine on May 7, 2002 by the Faisalabad Sessions Court (see May 7, 2002 below for more details). Masih's life may still be in jeopardy, though, as Islamic militants target Christians who have been charged with blasphemy, even if they have been exonerated by the courts.
    
• May 9, 2003 - Armed Muslim youths attacked a church 50km northeast of Lahore, beating up the Christians gathered inside and destroying pews and communion vessels. Mughal Masih, a Christian man, was set on fire and stabbed under the ribs as he ran towards the church. The youths were angered because the Christians chastised them for trying to block the entrance to the church and making derogatory remarks to women and girls. Police have refused to file a case under the blasphemy laws which punish those who defile a place of worship. (ANS/Barnabas Fund)
     
• April 26, 2003 - Razia Masih, a 9-year-old Christian girl, was dumped off at her brother's house after suffering torture and sexual abuse at the hands of her Muslim employers. Razia's brother, Farooq, had attempted several times to have Razia returned home after he learned of the abuse. However, the Muslim family only returned her when they became afraid she would die from the injuries they inflicted. Razia reported that the beatings took place whenever her employers watched TV footage of the war in Iraq. She was told: "We will take revenge for the American bombing of Iraqi Muslim children from you because you are a Christian and an infidel." Razia was beaten with a cricket bat, burned with an iron, slammed against a wall and sexually abused. She was hospitalized and continues to suffer mental anxiety.
     
• April 26, 2003 - Ranjha Masih, a Christian accused of blasphemy, was found guilty under law 295/c. He was awarded a sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 rupees. In 1998, Ranjha Masih participated in a protest rally against the country's blasphemy laws immediately following the funeral of Bishop John Joseph, a Roman Catholic priest who committed suicide in protest of the draconian laws. During the protest a neon sign bearing verses from the Koran fell down, probably due to the large mass of people. Ranjha Masih, who boldly condemned the blasphemy laws, was accused of throwing stones at the sign.
     
• April 1, 2003 - Christians gathered at the Civil Secretariat building to protest the death of Rehmat Masih (see March 6, 2003 below). Police clubbed Rehamt's nephew, Bodi Masih, over the head as he was trying to climb over the wall to join the protest. Bodi was rushed to a hospital where he later died from head injuries.
    
• March 31, 2003 - A Christian girl, 10-year-old Natasha Emmanuel, was lured into a Muslim neighbor's home and brutally raped. It was reported that the neighbor had grown angry about the US-led war in Iraq and decided to exact punishment from a Christian.
     
• March 21, 2003 - The Provincial Cabinet of the North West Frontier Province approved the implementation of Sharia law in the province. The Shariat law establishes that all existing laws must be brought into conformity with Islamic law. Rules such as those enforced by the Taliban are expected to take effect. Some of these rules include: a ban on music and cinema, all women must observe Islamic dress standards, compulsory Islamic education in all schools, and a complete ban on alcohol. Islamic punishments, including amputation and stoning, will also be carried out under the new law.
     
• March 2003 - Anti-Christian sentiment is high due to the US invasion of Iraq. During "million man" protests in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore militants have declared Westerners and Christians the enemies of Islam and have encouraged true Muslims to take up jihad against the infidels.
      
• March 19, 2003 - The Lahore High Court acquitted brothers Saleem and Rashid Masih after evidence presented to the court proved they had been entangled in the blasphemy case due to a civil land dispute. The Court ordered that the Christians be released from prison. (Compass)
     
• January 24, 2003 - The Lahore High Court was scheduled to hear the final appeal in the case of Saleem and Rashid Masih (see May 11, 2000 below). The hearing was then postponed until January 31.
      
• January 9, 2003 - An Islamic fundamentalist organization distributed pamphlets calling for violent jihad and instructing Muslims to "trace out Americans, Israelis, Russians and Westerners, whether they are army men or not and kill them whether they are in the city, air, sea or desert." The pamphlet further instructed Muslims not to work with non-Muslims or make any contracts with them.
      
• January 2003 - Three people injured during the attack in Chuyyanwai village (see December 25, 2002 below) have sustained permanent eye damage. Despite this, two of the men, as well as another man whose daughter was injured in the attack, have been named as suspects in the case. Some Muslim leaders have been calling for the release of a prayer leader initially accused of the crime by placing blame on the Christian community. (Compass Direct)
      
• December 25, 2002 -Two Muslims threw hand grenades into a church in Chuyyanwai village, near Daska, during an evening worship service. Three young girls were killed in the attack, while at least 15 people were seriously injured. So far four people have been arrested in the Christmas attack, including a Muslim prayer leader who is believed to have incited the attack. The men are reported to be members of the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad extremist group. Another potential attack was foiled the previous day when ammunition was discovered outside the St. Thomas Protestant Church in Islamabad. (AFP, BBC)
     
• October 22, 2002 - The Sindh High Court ruled that Christian Robin Peranditta was being illegally detained and ordered that he be immediately released from police custody. Robin had been held by the Karachi CIA since the attack against the Peace and Justice Institute on September 25. He was one of only two people not killed by the attackers and was being held by police as an eyewitness and suspect. Despite the Court's order for Robin's release, however, police forcibly re-arrested him in a Court stairwell as he was leaving the building. He was finally released a few days later. It was reported that Robin was tortured by the police in order to extract information. (Compass)
      
• October 10, 2002 - The Muthida Majlas-e-Amal (MMA), a fundamentalist Muslim party won major gains during the country's parliamentary elections. The MMA won the majority in Baluchistan and the Northwest Frontier Province. Known as open supporters of the Taliban regime, the MMA is calling for the implementation of Islamic sharia law in Pakistan.  
      
• September 25, 2002 - Two armed men forcibly entered the office of Adara-I-Amino Insaf (the Peace and Justice Institute) and proceeded to tie up and gag the workers they found inside. The gunmen then brutally murdered the Christian men by shooting them in the head at point blank range. At least two other people were injured in the attack, which took place in a 3rd floor office in the Rimpa Plaza, Karachi. (Reuters, AP)
     
• September 21, 2002 - A Muslim man shot and killed seven members of his family because he was distressed that his daughter and son had both married Christians. Muhammed Nawaz killed his wife, two daughters, two sons and both his son-in-law and daughter-in-law. Nawaz's wife, Kaneez Fatima, was brought up in a Christian family and converted to Islam shortly before marrying.
      
• August 15, 2002 -- Christian prisoner Ayub Masih was acquitted of blasphemy by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The three justices presiding over the case found the charges against Ayub Masih to be fabricated and ordered that he be released from prison. Ayub spent almost six years in prison since his initial arrest in October 1996.
      
• August 9, 2002 - In Texilla, six people died from an attack on John-C-Hemrich memorial Chapel on the premises of Christian Hospital Texilla. The chapel held a daily prayer service that began at 7:20 am. As the worshipers began leaving the building at about 7:45 am, three attackers threw a hand grenade of high intensity. One of the attackers died in the explosion, but the other two were able to run away. Three nurses died and 70 were injured.
      
• August 5, 2002 - Murree Christian School, near the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, was attacked by approximately 4 or 5 terrorists. At least 6 were killed including 2 security guards and a retired teacher. Four others were wounded as well before being able to escape.
     
• July 18, 2002 - Catholic Christian Anwar Kenneth was sentenced to death under blasphemy law 295/c. Kenneth was arrested in September 2001 for supposedly questioning whether Muhammad was the last prophet of God. Kenneth denies the charges.
     
• June 30, 2002 - Augustine Ashiq Masih (alias Kungri Masih) was sentenced to death and fined 50,000 rupees under blasphemy law 295/c (see March 17, 2000 below for details on his case).
     
• June 27, 2002 - A fifteen-year-old Christian boy died from torture by police during an investigation. Yaqoob Masih worked as a sweeper in the customs department near Christian Kachi Abadi. He was arrested on trumped up charges after witnessing a bribe between a van owner and customs officials. The van owner tried to convince Yaqoob to stay quiet but Yaqoob told the van owner he would tell the truth if asked. Fearful he would be exposed, the owner had Yaqoob arrested under false charges. The police tortured him, breaking his ribs and pulling out his fingernails among other things. Yaqoob was taken to the hospital later where he died from his wounds.
       
• June 17, 2002 - Christian prisoner Pervez Masih was attacked by another inmate, who struck him in the face with a piece of glass while he was sleeping. The attacker also damaged Masih's Bible. Guards eventually intervened. The incident was not revealed until several weeks later and Masih's hearing on July 6. Masih was accused of blasphemy in April 2001. (Compass)
     
• June 15, 2002 - A Muslim man, angry that a Christian teenager had rejected his sexual advances, threw acid in her face, causing severe burns. Seventeen-year-old Gulnaz worked at the Public Call Office (PCO) as a telephone operator. On June 14 Mr. Tariq Masih used the excuse of making a call to enter the PCO and tried to fondle Gulnaz. She firmly slapped him in the face. The next day, when she arrived at the office to pick up her final salary (she had quit due to insults and advances from Muslim men), Tariq threw acid on Gulnaz, making sure some went into her eyes and mouth.
  
• June 11, 2002 - A Pakistani Muslim on trial for blasphemy was murdered be a fellow prisoner. The murder, which seems to have been accomplished with the complicity of prison staff, causes concern for Christian prisoners being held on blasphemy charges.
     
• June 8, 2002 - Two Christian advocates were threatened for helping defend Christians accused of blasphemy. Mr. Pervaiz Aslam Chaudhry of Lahore and Mr. Khalil Tahir of Faisalabad have been labeled "enemies of Islam" and were told that they and their families would be killed. Both have requested police protection. (Compass)
      
• May 15, 2002 - A judge in Feroze Wala reached a verdict in the case against six Muslim men accused of raping 8 Christian women (see May 6, 2000 below). The judge determined that there was not sufficient evidence despite eyewitness testimony and medical reports that confirmed the rape. Three of the accused were immediately released while the other three were sentenced to two years imprisonment and a fine for possession of weapons. However, since they have already spent nearly 2 years in prison since their initial arrest, they will be released within a matter of days. The women plan to appeal to the High Court. Meanwhile, the men are making threats to take revenge against the women and their families.
      
• April 2002 - During the last week of April a Faisalabad court sentenced Aslam Masih to a double life sentence and a fine of 100,00 rupees despite irregularities in the case. Masih was arrested in 1998 and accused of defiling a Quran. At that time he was beaten and stabbed by an angry mob. Masih is planning to appeal to a higher court.
     
• April 7, 2002 - Seven to eight Muslim youths interrupted a church service of the Presbyterian Church in Satrah, near Gujranwala, harassing church members and uttering derogatory remarks. The youths brandished automatic weapons, which they fired into the air. By the grace of God no one was hurt and the youths fled the scene after the pastor called for help on the church loudspeaker. It is believed the young men were connected to an Islamic militant group and had received training in Afghanistan. A few months earlier another area church had received a threat from the Muslim Fighter Group, warning the pastor that if the church did not cease its activities, the militants would "paint the walls of the churches with blood."
     
• March 18, 2002 - President Musharraf announced that Forman Christian College will be returned to the control of the Presbyterian Church in a ceremony on October 5, 2002. The college, along with other church-controlled institutions, was nationalized in 1972. This decision gives hope to the Christian community that other church properties might be returned in the future. (ANS)
     
• March 17, 2002 - Unknown assailants threw hand grenades at worshippers in the Protestant International Church in Islamabad, killing five people, including two US citizens. Over 40 people were also injured in the attack. The church is located near the US Embassy in the diplomatic enclave. It is not known whether the attack was directed toward US citizens, specifically, or Christians in general. However, the security forces who were supposed to be guarding the church mysteriously disappeared at the time of the attack.
     
• February 13, 2002 - The Supreme Court of Pakistan agreed to hear the case of Ayub Masih (see July 25, 2001) after admitting there were irregularities in his prosecution. The hearing is expected to take place within the next 2-3 months. Masih's lawyer is hopeful that that he will be acquitted. (Compass)
     
• January 13, 2002 - A bomb exploded inside a Christian church at G/8 Christian colony in Islamabad. The roof of the building collapsed, causing great structural damage. No one was in the church at the time the bomb went off.
     
• November 9, 2001 - Waheed Paul, a Catholic Christian, was shot to death as he traveled to his job in Peshawar. (Compass)         
     
• November 4, 2001 – Unidentified pro-Taliban gunmen murdered Mr. Benjamin John, a Christian security guard of the Airport Security Force at Quetta International Airport, as he and four other Muslim security guards attempted to halt the gunmen from entering a prohibited area.  The gunmen forced Mr. John to the floor in a hail of gunfire, but did not injure any of the Muslim guards.          
      
• October 28, 2001 – Five masked gunmen with “bags of guns and bullets” (AK47) rushed into Saint Dominic’s Church and opened fire on 60-100 worshipping Christians, murdering 16 people and screaming “Graveyard of Christians – Pakistan and Afghanistan,” “This is just a start,” and “Allah-u-Akbar” (God is Greater).  Four children, four women, and eight men were slain in the attack, including the Pastor Emmanuel and a Muslim police officer, Mohammad Salim.  On the bullet-riddled wall above the bodies, a biblical epitaph was painted in red: “We want peace, order and harmony.”           
      
• August 9, 2001 – The dead body of a 23-year-old Bible College student was found outside of his church along with a letter that said “Stop Preaching to Muslims”. The Christian man, identified only as Sheraz, was kidnapped on August 2 as he left his place of work in Lahore. Militant Muslims are suspected in the murder.
     
• July 25, 2001 – The Lahore High Court rejected the appeal of Ayub Masih, a Christian sentenced to death by the Sahiwal District Court in 1998. There is only one possible appeal left in this case. If the Supreme Court of Pakistan does not overturn the ruling of the lower courts, Masih will be executed by hanging. The death sentence is the maximum punishment under Pakistan Penal Code 295/c for blasphemy against the Prophet of Islam. However, no Christian has yet been executed under the notorious blasphemy laws.
     
• June 25, 2001 – Islamic extremists in Sabu Mahaal village robbed the home of Christian Hamid Masih and also raped his wife. Hamid is the brother of Saleem and Rasheed Masih, two men convicted of blasphemy in May of last year. Hamid has been caring for his brothers’ wives and children. However, the family is now in fear for their lives.
                  

• April 1, 2001 – Christian teacher Pervez Masih was arrested on charges of blasphemy. Mr. Masih, who ran his own high school in Chailayke village, Sialkot district, was accused of uttering blasphemous remarks against Muhammed during tutoring sessions with three former students. It is believed that the teacher of a rival high school has implicated Mr. Masih falsely in order to force the school to close and gain the business for himself. Mr. Masih could face the death sentence if found guilty under Blasphemy Law 295/c.
               
• March 11, 2001 – The families of two men helping to support 8 Christian girls who were raped in May of 2000 were threatened by Islamic extremists. Pastor Fareed Masih and Ashiq Masih were not present at the time that the extremists forcibly entered their homes and assaulted their family members, including Pastor Fareed’s mother. The group left a message for the two men, saying that if they did not stop supporting the Christian girls, they would be killed.
             
• February 11, 2001 – 14-year-old Naira Nadia was kidnapped from her home in Mariam-a-bad, Shiekhupura district, by Maqsood Ahmed Shiekh, along with a number of other Islamic extremists. Mr. Shiekh was angered that Naira had dared to share her faith in Jesus Christ with her school mates, including Mr. Shiekh’s daughter. Thus, Mr. Shiekh and his armed companions kidnapped and brutally raped the young girl. She is being held in an undisclosed location.
            
• January 25, 2001 – Three Christians accused of blasphemy in 1998 were acquitted by the Lahore High Court. Hussain Masih, Isaac Masih and Iqbal Sehar Ghauri were accused of desecrating the Quran and uttering derogatory statements about the Prophet Muhammed on November 25, 1998. A Muslim neighbor had filed a complaint against the men after he supposedly found torn pages of the Quran and derogatory remarks written on a piece of paper in his lawn. The court acquitted the men after finding that there was no concrete evidence against the accused. The Muslim neighbor, Ejaz Ahmad, is now being investigated for fabricating the charges.
            
• January 19, 2001 – After 8 days in prison Khalid Masih and Nasir Masih were both freed when the other Christians in their group paid Rs. 60,000 (approximately $1000) bail. Both reported being beaten during their detention. All 8 group members are scheduled to stand trial on January 30, 2001.
            
• January 17, 2001 – Father Arnold Heredia and two other Christians arrested during a January 10^th protest in Karachi were released from prison on Rs. 30,000 ($485) bail.
            
• January 11, 2001 – Local Muslims leaders complained about a group of 8 Christians distributing Christian literature and copies of the Jesus film in Jacobabad, northern Sindh province. Khalid Masih and Nasir Masih were arrested on the charge that their materials were anti-Islamic and constituted blasphemy. Shortly afterwards residents reportedly held protests calling for the arrest of Pastor Yousaf Masih and Bruener Newton, the principal of Victor Public Secondary School. The two men were accused of being part of the Christian literature distribution. Principal Newton was also accused of distributing anti-Islamic materials in his school.
             
• January 10, 2001 – Three Christians and 14 Muslims in Karachi were arrested during a peaceful protest against the country’s blasphemy laws. Those arrested were charged with everything from unlawful assembly to attempted murder. Police used excessive force in arresting the protestors, who possessed no weapons.
              
• December 1, 2000 – Suleman Masih (see October 25, 2000 below) was arrested again for preaching Christianity, this time in the city of Mardan. He was released on bail. At his final hearing it was ruled that he could remain free as long as did not re-enter Mardan.
              
• October 25, 2000 –Ulema (Islamic religious leaders) in Lakki Marwat chased two men for distributing Christian literature. Qais Masih and Suleman Masih were subsequently taken to the police station where the ulema accused them of blasphemy. The two were released the next day after protests from various Christian advocates. Police said that preaching another religion was not illegal under the Islamic blasphemy laws.
               
• July 15, 2000 – Once again bowing under the pressure of Islamic extremists, Pakistan’s military ruler, Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf, signed Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) 2000, which reinstates parts of Pakistan’s suspended Constitution. Musharraf also made several amendments to the Constitution while establishing the Sharia court as the supreme court of the land, thus making Islam the sole, supreme religion of the land. He also added a new amendment differentiating Muslims from Non-Muslims by defining them as two distinct groups under the Constitution. These moves will only worsen the religious apartheid that already exists in Pakistan and reinforces the already misused blasphemy laws.
              
• May 11, 2000 – Rasheed and Saleem Masih were sentenced to 35 years in prison under blasphemy Law 295 (c) after supposedly uttering "bad remarks" against Islam and Mohammed (See May 29, 1999 below).
            

• May 6, 2000 -- Another case of persecution against Christians occurred near Lahore where eight Christian girls were gang raped by Muslims. The girls were returning home from work at the Lavaira Stitching Company when the van in which they rode was stopped and the girls were forcefully removed from the vehicle. Muslim women in the van were unharmed, proving that the incident was motivated by religious hatred. The manager of the stitching company tried to suppress details of the incident by bribing the girls’ families. When the episode was published in the newspaper, the manager retaliated by firing sixty Christian workers.
                

• May 2, 2000 -- Kungri Masih, was arrested and officially charged under Law 295 (c) in District Jail, Faisalabad (see March 17, 2000 below). The Christian Liberation Front Pakistan has hired an advocate to research the legal position of the case, believing that the charges against Kungri were fabricated by an extremist Muslim group.
                  

• April-May 2000 – On April 21, Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf announced a procedural amendment to the country’s blasphemy law in order to prevent its misuse by Islamic extremists. The decision was later revoked after various fundamentalist Muslims protested and condemned the amendment. This incident demonstrates the amount of political power wielded by militant Muslims over Pakistan’s government.
            

• March 17, 2000 – Augustine Ashiq Masih (alias Kungri Masih) was meeting with Christian relatives when he was attacked and severely beaten by a Muslim fanatic group. Kungri had been coerced to convert to Islam, but later reconverted to Christianity and attended church services with family members. The Muslim community subsequently turned against him and charged him with blasphemy against the Prophet of Islam.
          

• Ongoing — Christians in Pakistan are generally the descendants of Hindu converts in the 19^th century. They often live in limbo in squatter type settlements. Quite often they are being forced off their settlements as urban renovation projects destroy their dwellings to make way for new buildings. As they are allowed no land rights, they are thus being made homeless in large numbers.
              
• Ongoing – Christians who are accused of blasphey are often killed while awaiting trial. Between 1990 and 1998 at least 5 Christians were murdered after being charged with blasphemy. Mukhtar Masih was allegedly tortured to death in police custody. Tahir Iqbal was poisoned while in prison. Bantu Masih, Manzoor Masih, and Namat Ahmer were killed by armed attackers. Five Christians that were acquitted on blasphemy charges left the country, fearing for their safety.    

Prisoners: The following Christian prisoners are being held under law 295(c) for supposedly blaspheming the prophet Mohammed and/or the religion of Islam. There are undoubtedly many more prisoners being held in Pakistan, and ICC will make every effort to keep the list updated as we receive information.
       

• Ranjha Masih
• Kungri Masih (see above)
• Pervez Masih (see above)
• Jhang Amjad and Ashif Masih
• Anwar Kenneth

• Pray for the Christians of Pakistan that they may be protected from harm and that the Christian message may be heard and received by all. Pray that the drive to institute stricter Islamic law would be blocked and equal treatment for all faiths would prevail.
           
• Write a respectful letter to one or more of the government officials listed below. Express your continuing concern for the safety and well being of the Christian community in Pakistan. Request information about what steps the government is taking to ensure their protection and freedom to practice their faith as laid out in the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights documents.
             
• Contact the elected national officials (Senators, Congressman etc.) for your area as well as the U.S. State Department and express concern for the well being of the Christians in Pakistan asking them to make an inquiry into their status.

• Please keep us informed of any replies or results you may receive! Contact ICC by email at ICC@persecution.org.

POSTED:  July 16, 2003

ICC Articles on Pakistan:

• June 15, 2003 - Prayer - Bangladesh, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, China, Indonesia, Laos
• May 2003 - Prayer - Eritrea, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan
• April 7, 2003 - News - Press Release - Pakistan: Pakistani Christian-Falsely Accused, Tortured and Murdered; Protestors Take His Dead Body To The Streets In Protest
• March 12, 2003 - News - Press Release - Pakistan: Hate Campaign Waged Against Christian Minority In Pakistan
• February 26, 2003 - CONCERN - Posted February edition of the CONCERN Newsletter.  Includes the following articles: Pakistan - Three Girls Killed in Deadly Christmas Attack, Indonesia - Indonesian Christians Seek to Return to their Villages, Cuba - Cuban House Churches Confiscated by Authorities
• January 28, 2003 - CONCERN - Posted the January edition of the CONCERN Newsletter.  Includes articles on Sudan and Pakistan: Bringing Hope to the "Least of These", Christians in the North Also Suffer Under Islamic Regime, Persecuted Pakistani Teenager Finds Courage In the Lord.
• January 14, 2003 - News - Press Release - Pakistan: Pamphlet Urges Pakistani Muslims to Kill Westerners and Christians
• January 14, 2003 - CONCERN - Posted the December edition of the CONCERN Newsletter.  Includes Top Ten Countries Persecuting Christians: Vietnam, North Korea, Myanmar, China, Laos, Sudan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Pakistan.
• December 9, 2002 - CONCERN - Posted the November edition of the CONCERN Newsletter.  Features tributes to the late Rev. Steven L. Snyder, founder of International Christian Concern.  Also Inside: Updates on Pakistan and Indonesia.
• August 17, 2002 - CONCERN - August edition of CONCERN newsletter.  Pakistan Articles:  Pakistani Boy Dies From Police Torture, Pakistani Girl Suffers Acid Burns For Clinging to Her Convictions, Pakistani Christian Girl Raped, Another Christian Gets Death Sentence. CLICK HERE to receive a FREE subscription to the CONCERN newsletter! 
• August 15, 2002 - News - Press Release - Pakistan: Prisoner Acquitted After Six Years in Prison
• August 5, 2002 - News - Press Release - 6 Killed in Attack on Christian School in Pakistan
• August 1, 2002 - Prayer - Burma, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sudan, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia
• July 3, 2002 - News - Report - Pakistan: On June 30, 2002 the session court of Faisalabad found a Pakistani Christian, Aslam Ashiq Masih (alias Kungri Masih), guilty of blasphemy against Islam and sentenced him to death as well as fining him 50,000 rupees. If this verdict is not overturned, Aslam Masih will die by hanging.  You can e-mail your comments and concerns to President Musharraf at CE@pak.gov.pk.
• July 1, 2002 - News - Press Release - ICC urges American Christians to raise their voices in concern about the treatment of Christian women in Pakistan. Write immediately to Pakistani Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi and ask for her help in securing justice for Christian victims of rape and forced marriage.  Click here for details.
• July 1, 2002 - CONCERN - Posted June edition of CONCERN.  Suffering in Southern Sudan.  Updates on Indonesia, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.
• May 29, 2002 - News - Press Release - Pakistan: Christians Await Outcome of Death Sentence Under Pakistan’s Blasphemy Law
• May 15, 2002 - News - Press Release - Pakistan: No Justice For Pakistani Rape Victims
• April 30, 2002 - Prayer - Pray for needs in Burma, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, and Vietnam.
• April 8, 2002 - News - Press Release - Pakistan: Another Pakistani Church Terrorized, Christians Harassed, Fear Future Attacks on Churches in Satrah
• March 2002 - Prayer Points - Prayer Points for Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Sudan, Vietnam
• February 2002 - CONCERN - Vietnam: No Choice but to Endure!, Pakistan: ICC Meets Beleaguered Christians
• December 2001 - Prayer Points - Indonesia, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia
• October 29, 2001 - Press Release - Terrorists Kill 15 Christians During Sunday Service In Pakistan on October 28.
• April 28, 2001 - Prayer Points - Indonesia, Pakistan, Sudan, Vietnam, Turkey