Pakistan’s Christians Get Threat

Christians in Pakistan’s tense North West Frontier Province reportedly have been threatened with bomb attacks if they do not convert to Islam.

The Christian community, seeking government protection, said the threat was contained in an unsigned letter received 10 days ago that had set a Thursday deadline for the community members to become Muslims, the BBC reported Wednesday.

The province, which borders Afghanistan, has been hit by numerous acts of violence in recent weeks by Taliban militants, who say their campaign is designed to stop what they call anti-Islamic activities.

The government says it is giving protection to the 500 Christians in the region but the BBC report said some of them already have left the area while others live in fear.

We are in great danger and need protection, Michael John, head of Pakistan’s Catholic Church and a minority Christian member of parliament, told the BBC.

We are very much in fear that due to the lack of security these extremists will find a way to attack our people easily, said another Christian official.