Committee seeks release of Christians kidnapped in Pakistan

(March 14, 2012) In Pakistan, Church leaders have formed an ecumenical group to try and win the release of two local Christians kidnapped in Karachi last month. The 13-member committee, comprising a priest, pastors and politicians, was formed after several consultations with relatives of the kidnap victims, as authorities continue their search for the pair who work at the South Korean-run Good Samaritan Hospital in the Orangi Town area of the city. Inderias Jawaid and Issac Samson, the hospital’s assistant administrator and chief accountant, were abducted from a hospital van on February by four armed men whom police believe were Islamic extremists. “We go to the hospital every day to ask about our dear ones but learn nothing,” Saul Ashraf, brother of Inderias Jawaid told the committee. All the churches have been aksed by the committee to observe aday of fasting this Friday. It also plans to initiate a social media campaign; meet with local politicians and human rights groups and urge hospital authorities to share information.