Pakistan
Release International is calling for more supporters to sign its petition to Pakistan after news reports from Compass revealed that five more Pakistani Christians have been shot and killed.
As the Christians came out of their church building in Sukkur, in Sindh Province, a dozen masked men gunned down Pastor Aaron John and Rohail Bhatti, Salman John, Abid Gill and Shamin Mall, members of Full Gospel Church. Those injured included the pastor’s son.
This follows news that brothers Rashid and Sajid Emmanuel, who had been on the verge of exoneration after being put on trial under false blasphemy charges, were gunned down by extremists outside the court. A policeman was also caught in the crossfire.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Christians in the UK led a rally to call attention to increasing pressure on minorities in Pakistan, with rising violence against Christians in recent months.
The peaceful rally, organised by the British Pakistani Christian Association and supported by the South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance, began at the Pakistan High Commission and finished at 10 Downing Street. Speakers included former Bishop of Rochester Michael Nazir Ali.
