The kidnappers demanded about $1,600 in ransom and returned the little girl when they received the money, CLAAS told BosNewsLife.
“Sadly, no investigation has been made by the local police to catch the kidnappers or to recover the items that were stolen. Reverend Masih has written to the police asking for an investigation and for protection for him and his family. But, the local police ignored his request and has done nothing,” said Nasir Saeed, who supervises CLAAS campaigns in Britain.
Police officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
NO ISOLATED INCIDENT
This is not the first time Masih and his congregation were attacked. In October, 2001, at least 16 people died when five masked gunmen burst into the Catholic Church of St. Dominic where Protestant Christians had worshipped for decades.
It was one of the worst single acts of violence against Christians in recent years, and condemned by the Pakistani government and the Vatican. Pastor Emmanuel Allah Dita was among those killed, while other local Christian leaders, including Pastor Masih “continually face persecution in Bahawalpur” with people vandalising the walls of their houses and stealing telephone wires, CLAAS said.
Masih’s family “is very troubled emotionally and fear for their lives” and especially for the live of the pastor, CLAAS added in a statement. The group said it has urged supporters to pray for “God’s protection and comfort over Reverend Marcus Masih and his family,” and that local police will be moved to action and that the kidnappers will be brought to justice.”
“Pray for Shemaih Masih that God will comfort her heart and erase the memories of trauma and suffering in hands of the kidnappers,” the group asked supporters. There has been concern among churches and rights investigators about what they see as growing Islamic extremism in the country and attacks against minority Christians. (With BosNewsLife Research and reports from Pakistan).
