Armed group attacks Christian school in Pakistan

Attack on a Christian school in Sheikhupura, Pakistan's Punjab province, which provides free education and food to poor children. On April 29, a 14-member armed group attacked the Global Passion School under the Presbyterian community. The attackers demanded money. The attack left school staff beaten and vehicles damaged. School principal Simon Peter Kaleem was also assaulted.

Kaleem told police that the attackers demanded one lakh Pakistani rupees (US $ 536) each or else they would threaten to disrupt worship and the school. He added that the attackers threw chairs at children praying in the school chapel, abused female staff and threatened to kill them if they did not pay for two days. The attackers smashed the cars and motorcycles of the employees parked at the school. It is estimated that the attackers caused a loss of about three and a half lakh rupees.

Police arrested two people in connection with the incident. School principal Simon Peter said some of the country's religious and political leaders had said that Christians in Pakistan were safe when they went abroad, but would never say so in light of the incident. He added that their security personnel could not even walk and that they had been threatened and silenced.

Kalim had revealed that some members of the local Muslim community were trying to disrupt their prayers. Sheikhupura St. Teresa Parish Vicar Fr. Tawseef Joseph said. He expressed concern over the increase in attacks on Christians in the Punjab province. This is the third attack on Christians in Punjab this year. Says Tawseef. In January, four people stormed the St. Camillus Church in Okara district, and in March a young Muslim man climbed onto the roof of Christ Church and tried to remove the cross.