Pakistan prosecutes anyone who is seen to be insulting Islam, with the resulting penalty of life in prison or a death sentence. It is claimed that judges in smaller courts in Pakistan are too afraid to let Christians go free in blasphemy cases due to the threat from extremists.
Sajid Christopher Paul, President and Executive Director of Human Friends Organisation has said more needs to be done to make judges feel secure, “Judges in the low courts do not have as much security as the High Court and the Supreme Court. The lawyers and everyone involved in cases such as this say that they don’t have the same security so they don’t make the bold decisions.”
Christopher Paul went on “The Supreme Court can make daring decisions like the acquittal of Asia Bibi because they have high-level security.”
Recently, Christian man Asif Pervaiz was sentenced to death after he allegedly sent blasphemous text messages to a work colleague. Pervaiz says his sim card was stolen and messages were forged after he refused to convert to Islam.
Christopher Paul said, “The reason for cases like this is intolerance about co-existence. Christians are falsely accused. I’ve never seen a Christian commit blasphemy because of our teachings of peace and tolerance but they are always falsely accused.”
Analysis of legal data shows that over the past 30 years there is a Christian victim of these laws in Pakistan every six weeks.
Sources: Premier Christian News, Australian Prayer Network
- Pray against this very real threat of targeted violence towards those who defend and advocate for Christians and others who have been accused of blasphemy.
- Pray the authorities will do more to ensure justice for those who have been falsely accused. Pray the laws will be changed or revoked entirely.
- Pray for Asif, that the Lord will walk with him and his family during this uncertain and difficult time. Pray for the Lord’s favour to be upon Asif and ask for his release.
Post your prayer in the comments below.
Praying for you. Thank you for your faithful endurance. May God uphold you with His mighty hand. Love you
Ted
Amen and amen!
Dear Heavenly Father, we pray for our Pakistani brothers and sisters. Please May there be a great strengthening of the Christians in Pakistan. May they miraculously become a strong witness to You despite persecution. May You miraculously provide for them materially and in security, give them a bold message and extraordinary courage. May many many Pakistani people come to surrender to Jesus. Pour out your Holy Spirit on Pakistani Muslims, reveal Yourself to them through dreams and visions and online teaching so that many come to experience your saving power on a scale that is incredible. Lord, we love Pakistan and our brothers and sisters who live in this hard place, yet You are with them and You have Your witness in that country. May we soon start hearing wonderful reports about Your kingdom moving forward in great strides in Pakistan. All these things we pray in the powerful name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Yes indeed and thank you Sharon for a comprehensive prayer! Amen to it and to God be the Glory!
Lord, you know how dangerous it is to serve You in Pakistan. Please encourage God’s people to love, care for and support one another in this country that fails Christians at some levels of justice.
I urge you, Heavenly Father, to bring conviction on those falsely accusing Christians. May the unfair laws be revoked to give all people in Pakistan equal standing before the law of the land.
May your favour be granted to Asif and we plead for his release.
Lord God it is very sad when a judge will not uphold the law because the citizens take their own justice of threats against the life of judges. Lord God move the heart of the key leader who moves others to threaten with death those who want to uphold the law. Lord God will these lawless ones revive your dreams to trust Jesus as their Savior.
Father, I bring the nation of Pakistan before You Lord. I pray for the Christians in this nation. I remember You said in Your Word, “What they did to Me they will do to you.” For these Christians it is very real. I ask Father that the authorities will do more to ensure justice for those falsely accused. I pray the laws will be changed or revoked entirely. I ask Father, that as we intercede You will intervene in this situation in Jesus Name. Be with Asif Father, be his strength and comfort for him and his family during these uncertain and difficult times. I pray for Your favour for Asif and ask for his release, suddenly and unexpectedly set him free Father in Jesus name I pray.
Our Father in Heaven, Lord of the Nations we are reminded in Psalm 138 Vs4-5 that ‘All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.’ May you indeed bring your rule of the Gospel of grace to Pakistan and pour out your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth on this dark land. Have mercy O Lord on our brothers and sisters and help us to help them with our prayers and offerings.