Sunday, April 10, 2005

BRUTAL KILLING OF PASTOR TERRIFIES PAKISTANI CHRISTIANS

By Jeremy Reynalds
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- The mutilated bodies of a kidnaped Pakistani pastor and his driver have been found.

Pastor Shamoun Babar, 37, and his driver, Daniel Emanuel, 36, were found on April 7, dumped on a Peshawar road. According to a news release from the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA), they had been tortured and shot.

Babar and his driver were kidnaped on April 5 from the University town area, APMA reported. Their families informed the police and government authorities about the kidnaping.

The dead bodies were found with their hands forced behind their back; locked and chained.

It is not immediately clear who was behind the killing of Babar and Emanuel, but APMA reported that a number of Christian at Peshawar believe the murder was a targeted killing and a hate crime committed by extremist elements.

Some family members told APMA that Babar had been receiving anonymous threats and they were asked to stop their church activities.

Babar was a well known preacher and evangelist, APMA reported, and established the Peshawar-based “Ilam Dost Foundation.”

An APMA team has been investigating the killing. The news of the murder, APMA reported, has sent shockwaves among Christians throughout the country. Babar and Daniel were buried in “Gura Kabarstan.”

The increasing number of incidents of this nature is terrifying Pakistani Christians, APMA reported, creating a climate of insecurity and fear.

On Easter Sunday, there was an attack on the Apostolic Church at Khamba near Lahore. Gumnen opened fire, killing one worshiper and severely injuring seven others.

APMA has strongly condemned the killing of pastors and repeated attacks on Christians.

The organization has asked the government to take steps to stop the growing violence against Christians, and protect the religious freedom and human rights of oppressed Christians and other minorities in Pakistan.

APMA Chairman Shahbaz Bhatti asked that those concerned pray for the bereaved families.