Ranjha Masih Acquitted
Ranjha Masih (58), a Pakistani Christian who has been in solitary confinement on blasphemy charges for eight years, was acquitted on November 10 due to lack of any solid evidence against him. Masih was arrested on May 8, 1998 for allegedly damaging an Islamic signboard and was sentenced to life in prison in April 2003 (for details, click here). He has been waiting for three years to have his appeal heard by the courts. Masih is scheduled for release on November 14 after the "bureaucratic requirements" have been sorted out. He has recently received death threats and will be kept in hiding by the Christian community as soon as he is released. Please pray for Ranjha Masih's protection from the Muslim vigilantes.
- Current Ministry Projects
VOMC partners to train Christian women in sewing skills throughout Pakistan to provide a sustainable source of income for their families and encourage them in their faith and witness for Christ.
Project Funds: Families of Martyrs, Women’s Ministry
- Country Information
Population
247,653,551 (2023 est.)Ethnicity (%)
Punjabi (44.7), Pashtun [Pathan] (15.4), Sindhi (14.1), Saraiki (8.4) Muhajirs (7.6) Balochi (3.6), Other (6.3)Religion (%)
Islam (96.5), Other - Christian and Hindu (3.5)Leader
President Asif Ali Zardari (2024)Government type
Federal parliamentary republicLegal system
Common law system with Islamic law influenceSource: CIA World Factbook
- Pray for Pakistan
Pray that amendments will be made to Pakistan's existing blasphemy laws so that the country's citizens – including its children – will be protected from injustice and abuse. May our Lord's mercy and justice prevail, not only in the judiciary system but also in the hearts of the country's militants. Ask Him to transform their "hearts of stone" into hearts that are receptive to His love, mercy and the workings of His Holy Spirit – not only for the purpose of protecting the Christian minority but also for the salvation of their own eternal souls.
