Pray for Pakistan

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12) 

This afternoon, I received an email from a ministry in Pakistan that we have partnered with from time to time, asking for our urgent prayers during this time. They ask us to pray for:

The safety and security of CLAAS Pakistan staff at this time when they are getting threatening phone calls from Islamic fanatic groups. The main reason for the present threats is that they are fighting in courts on behalf of several young girls (some of them as young as 10 years old!) who have been kidnapped, raped and forcefully converted to Islam.

Pray particularly for Mr Joseph Francis and Ms Aneeqa Akhtar who have already have been assaulted earlier on this year by Islamists and whose lives are in danger. Pray for God's protection over them. 

Pray for sisters Saba (13) and Anila Younis (10) who were kidnapped, forcefully converted to Islam and one of them was forcefully married to a Muslim man. Now they have been recovered and sent to a shelter home rather than to their parents. Pray that their court hearing on the 20th of August will be successful and that they will be able to be re-united with their parents. 

Please pray for Saba's and Anila's parents also, pray that God will ease their pain and that they will be united with their girls. Remember here the parents and families of other victims of persecution and pray that God will give them strength and comfort them in these difficult times. 

Pray for Danish Masih and his family. Danish uprooted his life a short while ago after he was wrongly accused of Blasphemy by other workers in a factory. He is in hiding now fearing for his life. Pray that he and his parents and wife will experience God's peace at these difficult times.

Pray for CLAAS Pakistan staff dealing with several cases of forced conversion including Sonia who was kidnapped and converted to Islam and then married to a Muslim man in June 2008. CLAAS has taken this case to the court but the court has not been able to deliver justice. Her abductors have refused to produce Sonia in the court because she has embraced the Islam. Therefore, her Christian parents cannot have her back.  

Please pray for CLAAS UK staff and volunteers who are working hard to bring issues like the misuse of the Blasphemy laws and forced conversions to Islam to the attention of international organisations and communities. Pray that their voice will be heard and these issues taken into consideration by international representatives who can challenge Pakistani government officials on these matters. 

Pray for the political situation in Pakistan and for the impeachment of President Musharraf. As we all know that Pakistan is going through very hard times, especially politically and economically.

The present government has decided to impeach the President.  We pray that that Lord will give wisdom to the politicians and other people involved in this process and that the result will be beneficial to all the people of Pakistan.

Won't you take a few minutes and pray for Pakistan today?