Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Karachi (Agenzia Fides) – There is a fear that Taliban violence will increase, as a result of weakness being shown on the part of the government, police, and civil institutions. The Christian families of the city of Karachi, who suffered attacks last week from armed members of the Taliban, are terrorized and living locked-up in their own homes. This is what Fr. Mario Rodriguez, Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Pakistan, told Agenzia Fides in expressing his concern and alarm at the spread of violence of groups of Islamic militants in the country, not only in the Province of the North-West Frontier Province, but also in Pakistan's largest cities.
Fr. Rodriguez affirms: “The Taliban are threatening the Christian neighborhoods in the cities, frightening the women and encouraging the people to convert to Islam, on pain of death. The violence, with sudden outbreaks of aggression, is constant. The soldiers are armed with pistols and Kalashnikov guns. We are extremely worried about the situation and this constant wave of senseless violence, which authorities should not be permitting. The police have the duty of defending citizens from these kinds of aggressions.”
The PMS Director is making an appeal for attention and help from Christians from all over the world, inviting them to pray for Christian minorities in Pakistan who are experiencing moments of great difficulty.
“We trust in the Lord's help and we ask the government to retake control of the situation in the country. In the meantime, Christian families are being terrorized and do not leave their homes. They are resigned to isolation.”
The Church is trying to promote the participation of civil society (including moderate Islamic groups) in response to this religious fanaticism.
Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore, President of the Pakistani Bishops' Conference, sent a letter several weeks ago to all the political and institutional leaders of Pakistan, exposing the situation of terror and violence in which religious minorities are living, under pressure from Islamic fundamentalist groups, describing the presence of a “murderous machine of terror in the name of religion.” The Archbishop also observes that: “There is a real fear that the violence in Karachi could spread to other parts of the country. The Christians are already suffering injustice and violence on account of the law on blasphemy being used against them. At this time, their very survival is at risk.” The Archbishop worries: “Is the government capable of saving the Christians? Are the government and army capable of saving the democracy of Pakistan?”
In the meantime, more bad news comes for minorities, this time from the national judicial system. The crime of “blasphemy” (profaning the name of the Prophet Mohammad), in art. 295.C of the Pakistani Penal Code, is now punishable by death and the option of life in prison has been nullified. In fact, in a recent court decision, the Supreme Court declared the death penalty obligatory in these cases. The Church has for some time denounced the abuses of the law on blasphemy and its use in punishing or eliminating non-Muslim citizens. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 6/5/2009)
