THE Students of St Mary’s Minor Seminary and Rector Father Inayat Bernard held a day of bible reading and fasting for the release of Asia Bibi in Multan Jail and Sawan Masih in Ichchra Central Jail.
Bibi and Masih are members of minority Christian community sentenced to death on false charges of blasphemy.
Bibi’s use of a public well in 2009 resulted in an argument with her Muslim co-workers, following which she was arrested on blasphemy charges.
“We are vulnerable citizens of Pakistan, yet we pray for justice and human rights of Christian as ensured by the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah,” Father Inayat Bernard told students of Seminary to pray before starting the Bible reading.
“I was the parish priest of Mary Immaculate Conception church Anarkali. Joseph Colony, which was burnt, falls under Anarkali parish. It was a tough time and was very sad to see people sitting in the camps. People all around the country came to visit them and showed their support through money, moral support and so on.”
Masih was falsely accused of blasphemy by his Muslim friend Shahid Imran on the March 8, 2013, following a dispute of property. The accusation against Masih had sparked a riot; an angry mob of more than 3,000 fanatics set arson to over 100 Christian homes and two churches of Joseph Colony, a Christian neighbourhood in Lahore.
Father Bernard said that on knowing about the death sentence to Masih, he phoned the present parish priest, Father Andrew Nisari, Masih’s advocate Naeem Shakir and a catechist of Joseph Colony, Pervez Paulus, to show support. He hoped that Masih would receive justice in the Lahore High court.
Paulus said that the night before the sessions court judgement on March 27, the Christians of Joseph Colony had met and were confident that justice would be done and looked forward to Masih’s release. But now the Christian community felt sad, helpless and angry that the people who had burned and looted their houses last year were released on bail and the one falsely accused was given a death sentence. The catechist said that the people have been asked not to protest and be calm since the case is in the court already.
The Christians of Joseph Colony hope and pray that the Lahore High Court would do justice.
Source: Pakistan Christian Post
