Christian Photo Journalist and human rights activist under life threats

Lahore:Shakeel Maqbool Malik,a Christian photo journalist and a human rights activist working with Voice of Christians International as media Co ordinator,met LEAD's director Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill at his changed address along with his family and asked for support at the time of death threats from some extremists and militants.

Mr.Malik was constantly getting life threats since he is working for Christians in Pakistan.but on 20th of September,2013 while he was coming back to his house from Joseph Colony at bus stand(Lari Ada) two unknown riding on motor bike open fire at him from which he was saved luckily.

Mr.Malik also filed complaint in police station Lari Ada Lahore against unknown attacker but the Concerned SHO registered FIR No.415/13 under sections 337 H2 /427 PPC but refused to add section 324 PPC according to the version of complaint application.

In  fact,Pakistan has been converted into a hostile place for human rights defenders, particularly Christians human rights activists; where they literally face life threatening situations that include threats, monitoring of their location, illegal tapping of their phone calls, registering of fictitious cases against them, mysterious disappearances, insult, stigmatisation and ultimately killings.

Mr.Malik told that he was many times threatened by militants and some unknown person often took out the name plate which was engraved at his house's door just to make him harassed and he also got threatening letters in which he was threatened to be killed along with his family.

Mr.Malik's wife Marriam told that she often be terrified at night due to such kind of threats and harassment.She added that now they were not feeling secure in Pakistan and particularly after happening of this heart breaking incident of suicidal bombing attack at Cathedral Church in Peshwar.

Deep concerns and anxiety for human rights activists in Pakistan as a considerable number of rights activists are on the hit list of militants.

Additionally,the Tali-ban-linked militant group TTP Jundullah claimed responsibility within hours of the suicidal attack on Church.And...

"They are the enemies of Islam, therefore we target them," said the group's spokesman, Ahmed Marwat. "We will continue our attacks on non-Muslims on Pakistani land."

Pakistan's Christians face life on increasingly dangerous margins and discrimination from the law of the land as well as threats of violence in a country where 97 percent of the population is Muslim. 

LEAD's National Director Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill condemned the attack and threatening letters and urged law enforcement agencies to resolve the problem and provide sufficient protection to the Christian journalist and his family.

We have called on the government of Pakistan to protect places of worship and vulnerable communities in the wake of attack on Christians in Peshawar and also give security to Mr.Malik and his family.

LEAD request to all Christian leadership to help and support this victim family.This family now asking that they are in thirst and feeling hunger.