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British Pakistani Christian Association
World News

Pakistan church left in "great terror" after shooting

Five shots were reportedly fired through the front door of St Joseph's Catholic Church in the Dhoopsari area of the city but no one was hurt.

Only a small number of people were in the building at the time when an unidentified group - thought to be Muslim - riding motorbikes pulled up outside and began firing shots on June 4th.

British Pakistani Christian Association

According to the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA), the church's leader Babu George Salamat (pictured wearing a white shirt) said: "These are terrible times in Pakistan, Christians are not safe and many of us will be killed for our faith.

"Muslims in this country are brought up hating us - they persecute us as they fear the power and authority of Jesus.

"But we will continue to show love as Christ commanded and will pray for the word of God to touch their hearts and change their lives."

British Pakistani Christian Association

The British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA) is warning such attacks are "quite common" and this incident serves as a "poignant reminder of the hatred towards Christians by increasingly hard-line Muslims in the community".

The organisation says the shooting at St Joseph's last week has "created great terror" amongst both the congregation and the clergy, adding the church was also attacked by a mob two years ago.

British Pakistani Christian Association

Naveed Aziz from the BPCA, who visited the scene (pictured wearing a yellow shirt), said: "More then likely the attack has been undertaken by local young men who have been brought up hating Christians, much like the rest of Pakistan.

"For me it is disheartening that no matter how many times we share this news with Christians and Governments in the West they simply ignore our plight."

British Pakistani Christian Association

Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the BPCA, added: "We call on Governments in the West to engage in dialogue with Pakistan to bring reform to the laws and polices that undermine Christians and create polarisation.

"We demand that Foreign aid budgets are used to lever change to the poor human rights record in Pakistan and failing that, we ask for safe asylum for Christians fleeing Pakistan."

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