Pastor Survives Assassination Attempt Amidst Rising Tensions:
September 04, 2023
A Christian pastor in Pakistan, Reverend Father Eleazar Vicky, narrowly survived an attack by an unidentified assailant who targeted him for his faith. This incident adds to growing concerns about religious persecution and false blasphemy accusations faced by the Christian community in the country.
According to local authorities, Reverend Father Eleazar Vicky, who serves at Myong-Sang Naserth Church in Jaranwala tehsil within the Faisalabad district, reported to the Faisalabad police that he and his son were riding a motorcycle back home after leading prayers at their local church on the evening of September 3rd. They were attacked by an unidentified bearded assailant. The pastor recounted that the assailant initially tried to compel him to recite certain verses from the Quran. When he refused, the assailant shot him in the right arm and fled the scene. Fortunately, Pastor Vicky survived, and his condition is now stable, with no immediate danger to his life.
From his hospital bed, Pastor Vicky shared his account of the shooting incident with the police. He explained that three days before the attack, he had been accosted by the same assailant, along with another individual, who threatened to kill him, alleging that he had insulted the Prophet Mohammed. Local police officials have confirmed that an investigation into the attack is currently underway.
In his formal police complaint, Pastor Vicky provided details about unknown individuals inscribing Islamic slogans on the front walls of his church just last week, which violated local laws. With the assistance of local law enforcement, he managed to have these slogans removed. However, since then, he has been receiving death threats and has been falsely accused of blasphemy. In his plea, he urged the authorities to ensure the safety of himself and the Christian community, emphasizing the necessity for them to live in the country without fear. Additionally, he called for the arrest and prosecution of the assailant and any accomplices involved in the attack. Msgr. Indrias Rehmat, the bishop of the Faisalabad diocese, engaged with the superintendent of police, urging the apprehension of the responsible individual. The police confirmed that they had filed an initial information report.
As of now, no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the assassination attempt. This incident occurred merely two weeks after thousands of Muslims had attacked a Christian neighborhood in Jaranwala town on August 16th. During this violent episode, the mob set fire to and vandalized more than 20 churches, targeting over 800 Christian homes and forcing at least 10,000 Christians to flee. The outbreak of violence was sparked by false allegations and rumors that two Christian men had desecrated pages of the Quran, Islam's holy book.
Following the August 16th attacks in Jaranwala, similar incidents occurred in other regions, with extremist individuals vandalizing Christian places of worship with Islamic inscriptions in Karachi, Sargodha, and Rawalpindi.
The Christian community in Pakistan is deeply concerned about the ongoing situation. Threats and false blasphemy accusations have also spread through social media, and religious fanatics are using city loudspeakers to convey accusatory messages.
