Photo: VOMC
Members of the Lala Zarr Church in Peshawar had gathered for a prayer service on the evening of August 3rd when a group of angry men from the neighbourhood suddenly rushed into their place of worship. Initially, the men demanded that the volume of the sound system be reduced. However, shortly after the disruption, several other armed men stormed into the church building that evening, causing panic among the congregation.
The armed men fired several shots inside the building, causing damage but fortunately not hitting anyone. They then vandalized the facility and dragged Pastor Zulfiqar outside, where they assaulted him with the butts of their guns. Due to the attack, the pastor suffered injuries to his head and one of his eyes.
In response to this violence, the National Commission for Human Rights in Peshawar condemned the attack, emphasizing that such incidents are an affront to the core principles of human rights and freedom of religion. As a result, human rights advocates are calling upon the government to ensure that minority communities are safe and that those responsible for the violence are brought to justice. For other reports on incidents of persecution against Pakistan's Christians, go to our country report.
Pray that the perpetrators of this violent incident will be brought to justice and that necessary protections would be provided to the leaders and congregants of Lala Zarr Church, as well as all other believers who are at risk in various areas of the country. May our Christian brothers and sisters in Pakistan receive ongoing wisdom, guidance and peace as they minister to neighbours in their communities who have yet to understand and accept God's wonderful gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
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