Militants kidnap 20 Christian worshipers from Peshawar, Pakistan

**Waqar Daniel** Sun 22 Jun 2008, 7:21 am

Peshawar: June 21, 2008; (PCP report). The armed militants kidnapped 20 Christians from a house church in vicinity of Peshawar University,

which is located on highway to Khyber Agency leading to Afghanistan. The news of kidnapping of Christian worshipers have spread wave of fear among Christians living in NWFP where government have accorded peace deal with Pakistani Taliban and enforced Sharia Law on their demand.

According to one Christian MNA, selected by Pakistan Peoples Party, 25 Christians have been kidnapped from Church in Peshawar while news agencies have confirmed abduction of nine.

Reuters adds, "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.

The incidents of bomb attacks on video shops by Islamic elements have risen in number in NWFP where watching video movies is announced to be not Islamic by clerics.

The liberal political group is governing NWFP and acceptance of Sharia law demand is viewed as desperate need of peace in province.

Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress has expressed concern on kidnapping of Christian worshipers from Danish Abad, Peshawar University.

“ANP government shall take immediate action to free Christian worshipers from militants and adopt necessary measure for protection of Christians in Swat valley” said Nazir Bhatti

According to PCP, the Christians have threatened to be killed and kidnapped by Islamic militants by letters in Mardan and Nowshera cities of NWFP in year 2007. In such threatening letters, Christians were asked to convert to Islam or leave NWFP or get ready to be killed.

http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com/