Rising Concerns for Pakistan APCL Leadership’s Safety

Nawaz Salamat, founder & co-chairman of All Pakistan Christian League and Chairman of the European Union Action Committee of Pakistani Christians addressed a meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark. He stated, “I am very much concerned about the security of our key leaders of the APCL. It was only few months before when APCL activists were kidnapped and tortured in Karachi. After that Zeeshan Joseph and Almas Bhatti of the Punjab APCL team received serious threats”.

Mr. Salamat further said, “They were receiving continuous telephone calls demanding the close of all APCL activities and raising voice for minorities in Pakistan, otherwise they will be burnt alive with their families. Last week another officer of the All Pakistan Christian League, Maqbool Khokhar, was attacked by extremists in the middle of the night.”

It was also added by Mr. Salamat, “After the series of attacks on minorities and their worship places, the world has come to know the hidden truth that minorities are not safe in Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan has also failed to protect them.”

The worst incident in Pakistan’s history recently happened in Peshawar where about 100 worshipers were killed and 120 more were injured immediately following services at a Christian church by twin suicide bombers.

Nawaz Salamat also added that APCL is the fastest growing political party and voice of the voiceless people in Pakistan; this is why APCL leadership are at the top of the hit list of extremists.

“It is very sad to see, due to rising lack of security issues, many people have left Pakistan and now they are living thousands of miles away in exile from their families”, said Nawaz Salamat.

He is appealing to the Western countries to show special interest in the cases of Pakistani Christians in seeking refugee status.