Shamim writes about Muslims of a community in the Rawalpindi
area of Pakistan harassing Pakistani-Christians primarily because the Muslims
find the Christian services offensive.
Shamim doesn’t really share the specific details of the
Muslim Islamic Supremacism against Christian religious freedom. I found an
article the Christian Times Pakistan that make the issues a bit clearer:
Rawalpindi Neighborhood Christians
& Muslims Clash Over Religious Freedom (Photo: Christian Times Pakistan)
…
The complainants namely Muhammad
Sajid, Rashid Akhtar, Afzal Hussain and Muhammad Sadiq have maintained that
some Christian residents of the locality including Patras Salamat Masih, James
Allah Ditta and others are carrying out church activities which are bothering
them.
In an application submitted at the
New Town Police Station, the complainants claimed that Patras and James have
illegally formed a church in house right in front of theirs. “They perform
their religious ceremonies three days a week (Sunday, Tuesday and Saturday).”
The complainants claim that during the church services Christian youngsters are
stationed on the street; who block the passage of lay people on the street.
Moreover, the complainants said
that whenever a Christian dies, these congregants use the street for observing
funeral ceremonies. They said that religious practices of these Christians have
caused much nuisance to them. Furthermore, the complainants have stated that
when they tried to approach the church’ administration they hurled death
threats at us.
Sajid, Rashid, Afzal and Sadiq also
claim that Patras and James were allegedly trying to pressurize them to sell
their houses and leave the street. “We also informed the Union Council
Chairman, Abid Hussain Abbasi,” they maintained in the compliant. They
maintained that the Union Council Chairman had also advised them to sell their
properties to the Christians and leave the street.
On the other hand, the
Christians claim that on August 8, 2017, Sajid, Rashid, Afzal and Sadiq long
with others arrived at the church when a prayer service was going on.
Christians allege that the said people arrived with intent to attack the
congregants and therefore the police was informed about the situation. (Bold
text Editor’s -- Rawalpindi: Tension arises between
Christians, Muslims in New Town neighborhood; By admin; Christian Times Pakistan; 10/3/17)
I used bold text to point out that Muslims often lie when it
comes to the religious liberty of Christians. This is particularly so when
Islamic Supremacist use Pakistan’s Blasphemy Law to eject or cause harm to
Christians.
Here is Shamim Masih’s account below.
JRH 10/22/17
********************
Christians Fear to Attend Sunday Service
By SHAMIM MASIH
Sent: 10/22/2017 12:16 AM
RAWALPINDI: Christians fear of attending ceremonial
services and Sunday service due to the threats of Muslims living in the
neighborhood. Muslims disrupted church a service and wanted to eliminate the
church building in the twin area of Rawalpindi, a twin city of Pakistan. Police
are reluctant to arrest Muslims even after the attack.
According to the reports, a group of 13 people in the town
area of Rawalpindi district filed an application against the Pastor Patras
Salamat at the office of the district administrator “City Police Officer” (CPO)
to shut down the church. The CPO Israr Abbasi ordered the concerned officials
to take stern action against the church administration, the report said. The
document available with the Covenant TV reads that Mohammad Sajid, Rashid
Akhter, Mohammad Sadiq and others have filed an application against the Pastor Patras
Salamat and James Allah Dita to stop the religious ceremony done by local the
Christians around their houses and also wrote a threatening statement between
the lines. Number of 13 members of the locality wrote an application to the
district administration with their signatures underwritten and said that due to
their Sunday service and the religious ceremonial; the Muslim community living
around feels irritated and itchy. Therefore, they have requested the higher ups
to remove the church from their neighborhood. The city administrator (CPO) ordered
the concerned officials to take action and stop these activities, the document
reads.
Application
CPO
In talking to the Covenant TV Pastor Patras Salamat, he said
the Philadelphia Pentecostal Church is a registered body under the
A few weeks back, when the service was on and as soon as
worshipers began worshipping, Mohammad Sajid and a few other Muslims arrived
armed with guns and machetes to disrupt the Sunday service and shouted to stop
the service. The church administration went to resolve the issue. Later
the local administration arranged a reconciliation meeting between the Muslims
and members of the congregation. After a few days the Muslims again filed an application
to the senior officials, he added.
Mr. Javed Youhana, a regular church-goer said that he used
to attend the Sunday services since 1999 but he feels himself insecure while
going to church since the Muslim in the neighborhood have threatened the
Christians. Basharat Khokher, an activist said, “I live nearby but attend
the service on regular basis with my family, since the attack on [the] church
has created [a] sense of insecurity in me and many others. We live under
constant traumatiz[ation] since the attacks began on Pakistan on worship places
by the extremists. …
For the most time, when I go to church I fear anything can happen anytime and I
feel whether I will go back home (alive) or not.” [Blog Editor:
Emphasis mine]
Taliban terrorists and extremist in Pakistan have been
attacking worship places of the religious minorities across the country for the
last two decades, killing hundreds and with thousands injured. Many of them are
still living with their constant diseases and some are paralyzed due to these
attacks while worshiping their God. There have been attacks on Shiite mosques
and Imambargahs; Bohra worship places; Ahmadiya community worship places;
Churches; and Hindu temples. Due to the situation, the minorities in general,
live in the grip of fear even during the worship.
Be Blessed,
Shamim Mahmood
+92-300-642-4560
_______________
SUPPORT Shamim’s Christian advocacy in Pakistan. First contact
Shamim in case he has found an easy way to donate. I like to use Western
Union sending money with this LINK to the destination
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Edited by John R. Houk
Text embraced by brackets are by the Editor.
© Shamim Masih (Mahmood)
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