Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2008/s08060138.htm
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Gunmen Kidnap At Least Nine Christians in NW Pakistan
By Jeremy Reynalds
Correspondent for ASSIST News Service
PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (ANS) — Unidentified gunmen kidnapped nine Pakistani Christians on Saturday in an attack on a religious gathering in the northwestern city of Peshawar.
“The gunmen came in six vehicles and attacked the house where the Christian people were praying and took away at least nine people with them,” a senior police official, Imran Shahid, told Reuters reporter Faris Ali.
Reuters reported that some local residents said over two dozen people had been kidnapped in the attack in the Danishabad area of Peshawar city, the capital of North West Frontier Province.
According to Reuters, there was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the area is close to the Khyber tribal region where Islamist militants have been active in recent months. The region is also notorious for smugglers and bandits.
Reuters reported that Pakistan has seen a wave of militant violence; most of it in the northwest and the adjoining lawless tribal belt on the Afghan border, since the middle of the last year, but minority Christians have not been overtly targeted as such.
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2008/s08060132.htm
Friday, June 20, 2008
Pastor Beaten; Police Look the Other Way
Gospel for Asia
For Immediate Release
MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (ANS) — Gospel for Asia missionary Govind Ram and members of his congregation ask for prayer as they are appealing to their Superintendant of Police for protection. This request comes after local policemen did nothing to protect them from a group of 50 fanatics who, on June 15, savagely attacked the Christians.
Govind was in his church conducting a service when the fanatics came inside, dragged him and his wife outside and began beating them in front of their congregation. Several of the believers tried to help their pastor, but the extremists just beat them, too. The police were summoned, but the officers stood by watching, apparently powerless to control the mob of angry anti-Christians.
“The believers, who ran to help the pastor, were also beaten up in the presence of the policemen,” GFA’s correspondent wrote. “Meanwhile, the police disappeared in the crowd without taking any action or protecting the pastor and the believers.”
After the incident, the extremists warned Govind not to continue ministering in the village, or face “dire consequences.”
Govind and some believers from his church went to police authorities to request future protection, but they were turned away. Their next step is to lodge a formal request with the Superintendent of Police.
Govind and the Christians in his village urgently request prayer that the authorities and local police will act justly and agree to help the persecuted believers. They also ask for prayer that God will give them wisdom and courage to stand firm in these turbulent times.
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A female suicide bomber killed 16 people and wounded 40 Sunday when she detonated her explosives in a crowded area of central Baquba, police there said. A woman reacts as she views the scene of a Sunday suicide bombing in Baquba.
Police, women and children were among the casualties, according to the Diyala Military Operations command. The attack happened near the main government complex in Baquba on a street that security officials had sealed off last week. Only official vehicles were being allowed in the area; civilian vehicles without special clearance were prohibited.
More than 20 female suicide bombers have carried out attacks in Iraq this year, a number much higher than in previous years. According to the U.S. military, women carried out eight bombings in 2007.
Excerpted
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/06/22/iraq.main/?iref=mpstoryview
Journalists held for reporting on Taliban
Sunday, June 22, 2008
PESHAWAR: Police in the Shabqadar area of Charsadda district detained 15 local journalists on Saturday for reporting on Taliban activities.
Ahmad Ali, one of the arrested journalists, told Daily Times by telephone that they had received several warnings from DSP Ihsanuddin to refrain from such reporting. The journalists were later freed, but said they would remain in the police station until DSP’s transfer.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008/06/22/story_22-6-2008_pg7_7