Release International

A Release partner is among several high-profile Christians in Pakistan to have received death threats since Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti was murdered.

The threats have prompted calls for the Government to provide tight security for the likes of Joseph Francis, Director of CLAAS (Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement). This Release partner and his team of lawyers have championed the religious rights of many Christians – and called for the repeal of Pakistan's notorious blasphemy laws.

Shahbaz Bhatti paid with his life for his criticism of the same laws: he was shot dead in his car close to his mother's home in Islamabad on March 2 (Prayer Alert, March 2, 2011).

A leader human rights campaigner, Naveed Walter, who is President of Human Rights Focus Pakistan, said he feared that Joseph Francis could be the next target for extremist violence after receiving several death threats recently. He also said other unnamed Christian leaders had been threatened.

'The Government must take note of threats that he is receiving before the Christian community loses this great leader,' Mr Walter told ASSIST News Service, adding that he too had been the target of similar threats.

Joseph is also Chairman of the Christian National Party and a tireless political campaigner for minorities' rights. The recent threats are nothing new: he was threatened and driven off the road by extremists in 2008.

Meanwhile, Christians in Lahore are demanding that police step up their investigation into Mr Bhatti's assassination. Extremist group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for his death – but no arrest has been made.

About 2,000 Christians held a protest outside the Lahore Provincial Assembly on Sunday, condemning perceived police inaction – and calling for the repeal of the blasphemy laws. These laws are widely misused to persecute Pakistan's religious minorities, including Christians.

(Sources: ASSIST News Service, Christians in Crisis, International Christian Concern)

• Ask God to protect and grant His wisdom to Joseph Francis, the CLAAS team and others who risk their lives to promote greater religious freedom for Pakistan's persecuted minorities, including Christians.
• Pray for justice for the family of Shahbaz Bhatti, still grieving his loss. Pray too that God's presence will be with them and give them rest (Exodus 33:14).
• Pray that God would watch over Release's other partners in Pakistan: Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan and Community Advance Programme.

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