Pakistan: Young Christian evangelist shot dead by gunman
Feb 05 2008
Postings >> Pakistan

The gunman who shot dead a young Christian evangelist in Pakistan used his victim's mobile phone to tell his family he had been murdered.

Sajid William, who was in his 20s, was shot three times in the chest as he returned home from his office in Peshawar, North West Frontier Province, on January 17. His wife heard the news shortly afterwards – from her husband's killer.

William managed the district office of Shelter Now International, a Christian relief and development agency. He was also an active member of his local Assembly of God (AOG) church – and father to an infant daughter.

A pastor of the AOG church in Peshawar told International Christian Concern: 'We believe that William was murdered for his faith and was a martyr.' William's family has reportedly registered a case with police but no arrests have yet been made.

Meanwhile, police in Punjab have successfully tracked down a young Christian girl abducted, forcibly converted to Islam and married to a Muslim man. This is a rare success story among many reported incidents of young Christian women being abducted by Muslim men – and then disappearing.

Tahira Salamat, 20, was discovered at her abductor's home four months after she vanished from Khanewal district. It took more than two weeks for Tahira's family to persuade police to open an investigation into her disappearance.
 
Pray for the family of Sajid William, particularly his wife and young daughter. Pray that they will stand firm in their faith.

Thank God that Tahira Salamat has been reunited with her family. Pray that the authorities will do more to quash discrimination against the Christian minority.