Mob attacks Church in Karachi, Pakistan.

Written by: Jawad Mazhar (Rays Of Development Organization Fact Finding Team (RFFT), Sargodha, Pakistan)

Karachi, Pakistan (RFFT) July 14^th: An angry mob of fanatic Muslims attacked the worshipers in a United Presbyterian Church at Noorknan, situated just off the Karachi-Hyderabad Super Highway during the broad daylight. Eye witnesses said that mob of fanatic Muslims attacked the believers during a prayer service brandishing swords, daggers and batons on July 10^th, RFFT has learnt through well placed local sources.

It is pertinent to mention here that the same Church was attacked and destroyed in the year 2001, but provincial government of Sindh accorded permission to built new Church building on same location.

This Church in outskirts of Karachi city is administered by United Presbyterians and known as UP Church, which serves the Christians of Noorknan and its surrounding localities.

Pastor Iqbal Anthony, who leads congregation managed to erect the present structure of Church with the support of local congregation. The Muslim residents ransacked this Church in the year 2001, backed by political support of Muslim leaders and were saved from any legal action

A group named Compassion Asia adds, “15-18 Muslim of Gul Hassan Berohi group equipped with batons, daggers and swords entered in to the Church and attacked and desecrated the Church and Holy Bible and other Holy Books which were placed in the altar, later mob of conservative Muslims attacked Pastor Iqbal Anthony with daggers and swords, leaving Pastor Anthony critically injured. He was rushed to hospital.

The angry attackers were shouting “infidels! Stop false rituals” “infidels can not stay here” “This is the country of Muslims, so, recant Christianity and become Muslims or be ready to die”

Other injured Christians included Sanjed Masih and Haroon Masih. Mob of fanatic Muslims thrashed Christian women and girls very badly and left them seriously injured, they were also taken to the hospital.

The Christians have appealed to the provincial government of Sindh to take action against Muslim assaulters and demanded to beef up the security of the Church and Christian residential areas.