Release International

Two Christians from Punjab are in protective custody after blasphemy accusations against them sparked violent riots.

A furious mob began attacking Christian homes in Aziz Colony, Gujranwala, after a father and son accused of burning the Koran were released by police.

Police said they had no option but to re-arrest Pastor Mushtaq Gill and his son, Farrukh, to avert further violence, according to Release partner CLAAS (Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement).

The attacks, on April 15, prompted hundreds of Christians in the area to flee their homes, fearing a repeat of the attack on Gojra, also in Punjab, in August 2009. Seven Christians were killed in the Gojra raid, which was also prompted by blasphemy allegations.

Pastor Mushtaq is a teacher at the Christian Technical Training Centre of Gujranwala; Farrukh works for a bank. CLAAS reports that the pair were falsely accused about four months ago when burnt pages of the Koran were found near their house.

Since the riots, the police have charged the pair under Pakistan's blasphemy laws and are holding them at an undisclosed location. Compass Direct news service quotes police as saying that a case was registered for the Christians' own safety.

CLAAS reports that the situation in the area remains tense.

Meanwhile, CLAAS is also calling for prayer for a pastor and his wife from Hamza Town, near Lahore, who have gone into hiding after death threats.

Pastor Ashraf Paul, 55, and his wife, Rubina, received a five-page letter from extremists threatening to kill them unless a substantial sum of money was handed over.

NEWS UPDATE:
Afghan Christian Shoib Assadullah, who was detained in October, has been released from jail and has left Afghanistan. Shoib, who became a Christian five years ago, was arrested in northern Afghanistan after giving a New Testament to someone who then informed on him to the authorities (Prayer Alert, December 17, 2010).

(Sources: CLAAS, Compass Direct, Release sources)

• Pray that calm will be restored in Aziz Colony in Gujranwala and the allegations against Pastor Mushtaq and Farrukh will be exposed as false. And continue to pray for the CLAAS team and its director, Joseph Francis, who have faced threats themselves as they work to uphold Christians' religious rights.
• Thank God for the release of Shoib Assadullah in Afghanistan. Pray that Shoib will know God's guidance and provision as he rebuilds his life abroad.

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