Release International

A Christian lawyer, his wife and five children are believed to have been murdered by Islamic extremists after he dared to challenge a Muslim loan shark.

Edwin and Ruby Paul were shot dead at their home in Haripur in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, north-west Pakistan, along with their five children aged between six and 17, on September 28. A Muslim neighbour told Compass Direct news agency that the lawyer had been warned to leave the area by armed men the previous day.

Edwin had taken up the case of a Christian taxi driver who had taken out a loan of 150,000 rupees (just over £2,000) from an influential local Muslim to buy a taxi, only to find that the interest rate had been raised to 500 per cent without his consent. When the Christian failed to pay the lender, a man with alleged links to extremists, his home and taxi were seized.

Edwin had only moved into the area with his family in February. When he registered a case against the loan shark with police, he was reportedly beaten and received death threats from the man’s associates. Edwin had appealed for help in letters to the provincial government, Christian organisations and churches – but no one was prepared to intervene for fear of extremist reprisals, according to a local church leader.

(Source: Compass Direct)

• Pray God's peace and protection over Christians living in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Ask God to grant His wisdom to pastors in the province.
• Pray particularly for friends of Edwin Paul and his family. Pray that God will comfort and strengthen them.

Back to top