As President Asif Ali Zardari faces criticism for visiting Britain while a natural disaster ravages Pakistan, a hundred protestors have been demonstrating serious concerns over increasing pressure on minorities in Pakistan by staging a London rally.

05 August 2010

As President Asif Ali Zardari faces criticism for visiting Britain while a natural disaster ravages Pakistan, a hundred protestors have been demonstrating serious concerns over increasing pressure on minorities in Pakistan by staging a London rally.

Multi-faith campaigners led by the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA) and supported by the South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance paraded London's streets on Saturday calling for the repeal of Pakistan's Blasphemy laws. Petitions were submitted at the Pakistan High Commission and Downing Street, while representatives from Hindu, Sikh and Christian human rights groups joined former Bishop of Rochester Michael Nazir Ali, the former Christian Peoples Alliance Councillor Alan Craig and MEP Jean Lambert, in speaking out against injustices in Pakistan.

The multi-faith peace rally follows recent threats of violence towards Christians in Pakistan and the tragic anniversary of a massacre in Pakistani's Punjab province.

Robin Thomson from South Asian Forum said: "The peace march was a clear statement of our concern for the peace and security of all the people of Pakistan, as we joined with others of different faiths. At the same time it was clearly in the name of Jesus, as we knelt on the pavement to pray the Lord's Prayer in Piccadilly and Whitehall."

Wilson Chowdhry of the British Pakistani Christian Association said: "Following the protest we continue to raise a voice for religious minorities in Pakistan. A group of Pakistani Christians, protested outside the hotel where Pakistan's President has been staying on Tuesday. We urged the Government for the repeal of Pakistan's Blasphemy Law, allowing for the protection of individuals of all faiths."

Notes to Editors:

1. To watch the march and to see interviews with protestors, please click here.
2. Photographs of the protest can be downloaded here, please credit Waseem Gill.
3. The British Pakistani Christian Association is run by Alex and Wilson Chowdhry and advocates on issues that affect Pakistani Christians.
4. The South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance is a new grouping set up to  provide a forum for South Asian Christians in the UK to encourage, support and equip each other for mission, and to represent their concerns to Government, media and the wider Church.There are around 75,000 South Asian Christian Christians in the UK, representing the eight countries of South Asia and a range of languages and backgrounds. The eight countries are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.

As a 'minority within a minority' South Asian Christians need a voice to respond quickly and with unity to issues. For example, pressure on Christians in Pakistan and the on-going fragility of the country, or the intense suffering caused by the divisions in Sri Lanka.

Media enquiries:

Wilson Chowdhry, 020 8514 0861 Vice-President, British Pakistani Christian Association

ENDS