Pakistani Christians face discrimination in prisons too

This article was published in: World Watch Monitor:

November 1, 2017 By Asif Aqeel

Pakistani Christians, often discriminated against because of their faith and standing as members of Pakistan’s lowest caste, find that discrimination follows them in prisons as well.

The justice system is extremely slow in Pakistan and, as a result, thousands of Pakistanis languish in overcrowded jails, having yet to face trial. As many Christians are accused of blasphemy only because of personal vendettas or vested interests, it takes years before courts absolve them of false charges.

World Watch Monitor met several Christian inmates, who revealed that they are mistreated because of their religion. They said that as soon as it was revealed to other prisoners that they are Christian, the attitudes of other prisoners and officers towards them changed and they were treated as ‘untouchables’ and forced to clean the toilets.

Pastor Maurice Shahbaz, founder and director of the Prisons Mission Society of Pakistan, has been struggling for more than a year now to get permission for missionaries, evangelists and pastors to be allowed to visit prisons to share teaching with Christian inmates.

Read the rest of the article here.

Christmas/New Year 2017/18 program in Pakistan's Prisons

Prisons Mission Society is arranging Christmas/New Year 2017/18 program for 3000 Prisoners. Special food/ gifts will be distributed among prisoners.

Can you help? https://t.co/W8s1gbalCi

Christian prisoners in Pakistan have lost their religious freedom and facing the persecution

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please could you pray for the Christians prisoners of Pakistan, that Christian prisoners have lost their religious freedom and are facing the persecution by Mian Farooq Nazir, Inspector General of Prisons Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan because he has stopped the religious syllabus / Bible study and worship services and religious remission for Minorities prisoners, and they do not have any opportunity to improve their education under rule 215 of the Pakistan Prison Rulers (Jail Manual).

And also reference to the Writ petition No.599 /1994, dated 01-02-1994 in the Lahore High Court, Lahore by Maurice Shahbaz: Under articles 37 and 38 of the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973, it is the policy of the state to eradicate illiteracy from the country.

I have on many occasions written and visited the Government officials and authorities concerned, to solve the matter, but still no action has been taken.

In Pakistan millions of Christians are routinely persecuted, tortured, raped and murdered by a society that does not tolerate them. I call upon all members of the Christian community globally to speak on behalf of the Christians in Pakistan and to highlight the distressing, dangerous and life-threatening conditions that we all live under.

I appeal to you to help us survive this persecution and to speak on our behalf at the highest religious and governmental levels worldwide. I pray that the Almighty Lord make you a part of our mission.

Thank you. God bless you.

With best regards,

Rev. Maurice Shahbaz Founder and Director Prisons Mission Society
+92-300-8881483
E-mail: prisonsmissionsociety@yahoo.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/maurice.shahbaz
Twitter: @MauriceShahbaz

"Christian prisoners in Pakistan have lost their religious freedom and are facing persecution," - Rev. Maurice Shahbaz on a visit to prisoners

Rehabilitation of prisoners and their families

Rev. Maurice Shahbaz during Prisons Mission Society's weekly program of The rehabilitation of prisoners and their families at Presbyterian Church, Nawabanwala, Pakistan:

Rev. Maurice Shahbaz (Director of Prisons Mission Society) at Pentecostal Church, Basti Balochan, Sheikhupura, Pakistan, during the weekly program of The role of society in rehabilitation of prisoners & families: