Christian leaders demonstrate before Pakistan High Commission

(August 10, 2009) Christian leaders and scholars from a theological college, Vidya Jyothi in the capital on Friday demonstrated against violence in Pakistan's Christian minorities, before the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. National United Christian Forum, All India Christian Council and several other groups came together and organized the protest in front of the High Commission. A memorandum addressing the Pakistan President also was submitted to the acting High Commissioner of Pakistan in India. The delegation which visited the acting High Commissioner include, Archbishop Vincent Concessao, Delhi Auxiliary Bishop Rev. Franco Mulakkal, All India Christian Council Secretary General John Dayal, Bishop Simon John of the Believers’ Church, Catholic priest Fr. Dominic and Sr. Nalini. The protesters demanded that the Pakistan Government repeal the blasphemy laws and punish the guilty involved in the burning alive of Nine Pakistani Christians the last week. The protesters assembled at the Pakistan High Commission singing hymns. There were participants from different denominations such as the Catholics, Protestants, Pentecostal and Evangelical Churches, and the Salvation Army. Those spoke at the meeting narrated the violence in Pakistan and the plight of the religious minority in that country. The police had earlier imposed prohibitory orders at the High Commission. The memorandum offers a vivid picture of the violence perpetrated to the Christians in Pakistan and then it reminds the President of the Civil Societies demand to repeal the laws of blasphemy to the Government. It then say, “The Christian community in India joins with the peace-loving people across the world and supports the demand by Pakistan Civil Society and the Minority communities, specially the Christians, for strong action by Federal and Provincial authorities to bring the guilty to book and to create an environment of peace in which the religious minorities can regain their confidence.”