Source: www.MNNonline.org
Date: October 9, 2026
Pakistan (MNN) — Thousands of people in Pakistan are calling for the release of former prime minister Imran Khan, who has been in prison since 2023. Protesters marched into the city of Peshawar on Thursday, October 8, after further attempts at talks the previous weekend failed to bring an agreement.
Nehemiah with FMI says tensions and uncertainty have already been high across Pakistan. It’s especially true in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where Khan’s political party is in power.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan (Photo courtesy of The White House from Washington, DC, Public Domain)
“This province has a great significance as the shared border with Afghanistan, and there is a war situation going on at this border as well,” Nehemiah says.
“Tensions remain between the government and the opposition, while recent attempts at dialogue have reached a deadlock, even a gridlock, particularly over how to address the growing terrorism situation in the northern provinces and the opposition’s demand for the release of their leader, Imran Khan.”
Like most political scenarios, Pakistan’s situation has many layers. Nehemiah calls it a “deadlock between the government opposition, tribal leaders across Pakistan, religious organizations in Pakistan, and fanatics or a separatist group in Pakistan and Afghanistan who influence this whole region.”
According to the 2026 Global Terrorism Index, Pakistan is ranked as the top country in the world most impacted by terrorism. The South Asia Terrorism Portal datasheet on Pakistan says there have been more than 1,140 incidents of killings related to terrorism there between January 1 and October 5, 2026.
Threats of violence, as well as political protests, have a direct impact on Christian ministry.
“When there is a political instability, protest, terrorism, and security concerns, people become afraid to travel. Churches and ministry leaders have to be much more careful about where they meet and how they communicate,” Nehemiah says. FMI’s partners sometimes have to delay or cancel discipleship gatherings, church visits, and the distribution of Christian resources.
“For our ministry partners, this is not simply something they read about in the news; they live with it every day,” he says.
Find your place in the story
“I believe this difficult environment is creating incredible spiritual opportunity. People are searching for hope. They are asking questions about suffering, fear, death, and the future,” says Nehemiah. “Pray for peace in Pakistan. Pray for wisdom for those making decisions that affects the security of the country.”
Pakistan (Photo courtesy of FMI)
But especially he asks for prayer for FMI ministry partners, “those who are quietly serving Christ in difficult and sometimes very dangerous places. Pray that God would protect them and their families, give them wisdom and courage, and open doors for the gospel.”
Finally, pray for the people of Pakistan, living real lives affected by the decisions and conflicts of their leaders.
As you pray, remember where our true hope comes from.
“The situation is difficult, but God has not abandoned Pakistan. We believe He is still at work, and we want to remain faithful to the opportunity He has given us to serve there,” says Nehemiah.
Header photo: