RAWALPINDI,
PAKISTAN – (ANS)- A Pakistani Christian leader, has told believers of
his country that there is a lack of unity in the Christian community, and
stressed the importance of education.

Speaking at a special event in
Rawalpindi, Pakistan last Thursday (January 26, 2012), Zeeshan Joseph of the
All Pakistan Christian League (APCL), a political party, went on to say,
“We need think tanks. We have to make our weakness [into] our strength. We
need to come out of our self-pity and minority syndrome.”

Joseph was one of many speakers at a
six-hour seminar on the “Challenges faced by the Christians in Pakistan
and their solutions…. How religious freedom and human rights can be ensured
in the present scenario of Pakistan,” a well-attended event organized by
overseas Christian Pakistanis and held in a local hotel.

Christian political parties, clergy
and human rights activists all participated in the event.

Pervaiz Rafique, a Member of the
Provincial Assembly, spoke about the lack of “political and spiritual
leadership” in Pakistan telling those there, “We have to stop looking
at others and instead do something ourselves. The spiritual leaders should make
our Christian community spiritually strong, rather than trying to participate
in political activities. We need to unite on our national issues, when was the
last time a 100,000 Christians gathered to raise their voice?”

He then raised the case of Mumtaz
Qadri, who on January 4, 2011, assassinated Salmaan Taseer, the 26th Governor
of the Province of Punjab, after disagreeing with Taseer’s opposition to
Pakistan’s blasphemy law and his support of Asia Bibi, a mother-of-five who had
been sentenced to death for alleged apostasy.

One of Taseer’s bodyguards, Qadri
shot him 27 times with an MP5 sub-machine gun at Kohsar Market, near his
home]in Sector F6 of Islamabad, as he was returning to his car after meeting a
friend for lunch

“Qadri is supported by over
2000 lawyers who are willing to fight the case for free, and thousands have
shown their solidarity with him. It is a shame that no Christian lawyer is
willing to fight for the Christians for free, [and that] no Christian lawyer is
even willing to take the initiative for the community,” said Rafique.

Another speaker, Bishop Ijaz Inayat
Masih of Karachi, who is said to be the only Bishop of the Church of Pakistan
who is openly campaigning against sales of church properties in Pakistan, said,
“The Church Property Ordinance 2002 needs to be amended as it is not being
implemented and Church properties are being sold unchecked. Recently the church
at Gosh-e-Aman in Lahore was demolished [and desecrated) with claims that it
was sold to. [a Trust). We need to make laws that would ensure the protection
of the Church Properties."

Father Anwar Patras from the
Catholic Diocese of Rawalpindi said, "It is nice to see that we have the
major political parties, the clergy from the Catholic, the Anglican Church and
the Presbyterian Church under one roof. We all share the same faith, such
seminars must be encouraged. I feel that this initiative should have been taken
by the Catholic Church. We support an amendment in the Church Property
Ordinance and it should be implemented."

Joseph Francis from CLAAS (Center
for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement) then said, "Pakistan was founded
by the decisive vote by S.P. Singha, a Christian. That letter is still available
at the national library Lahore. The minorities have been facing constitutional
discrimination, they are not been given the rights they deserved. The
Government talks about religious freedom and rights, they make minority
parliamentarians but in reality the minorities are titled as rubber stamps and
have no say in their parties."

Professor Salamat Akhtar added,
"Rawalpindi is a city of the martyrs. In 1971 the Christians of Rawalpindi
fought for their lives and gave their lives for the cause. The Christians
should demand dual vote for themselves, the Muslims in the subcontinent were
given the right of dual vote in 1910, 1941 and 1946 as they were a minority.
Now why can't the Muslims give us the right of the dual vote. We need to focus
on education and get our children in the public services so that that can be in
position for policy making one day and be able to make a difference."

Albert David, an activist from the
British High Commission said, "We all agree on Jesus Christ, and so we
need get united. I do agree about the idea of sending our children in public
services that is where the policies are made. I wouldn't encourage going after
the political parties, instead do something about the policy making."

Cornelius Mohsin from the Pakistani
Christian Alliance USA said, "Today's event was made possible by the
overseas Pakistani Christians who are away from their homeland, but love their
country and want to do something for the Christians in Pakistan. One of the
major challenges we face is that we don't even know our exact population. Some
say its 1.5% , 3% or 5 %... do we have anything documented? Have we ever
stressed on having a census?

"As far as I know, there are
around 17-20 Christian populations where the Muslim politicians win on the
Christian votes. Why don`t we demand election on a general seat for our
candidates instead of getting them selected. If we have 17-20 strong candidates
we will be able to have a voice in the parliament. If MQM (Muttahida Qaumi
Movement, a liberal-secular political party of Pakistan] can make a government
with 17 seats, then why can’t the Christians become strong by having seats in
the parliament?”

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About Rodrick Samson

Rodrick Samson is a freelance
reporter for The Cypress Times living in Pakistan who risks his life to expose
the truth about persecution of Christians.

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