[Today’s Prayer] Pakistani Christian imprisoned despite being found not guilty of blasphemy

A Pakistani Christian sentenced to death on blasphemy charges was recently acquitted in a related case but remains in prison.

In an interview with Morning Star News recently, lawyer Lazar Allah Rakha said, “Noman Masih (24), a Christian young man, was illegally prosecuted by the police twice. “Although Marsh was acquitted in the second case, he was found guilty in the first case and is still on death row,” he said.

Rakah continued, “On February 20, a judge of the Bahawalnagar Additional Sessions Court acknowledged my claim and ruled that the case against Masih falls under the ‘one-shot-out-of-pocket principle’, which states that ‘no person can be prosecuted or punished for the same offense more than once.”

He claimed, “The police prosecuted Masih in two cities, Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur, and in the process showed a malicious intention to punish him twice.”

“The police tried to indict him in an anti-terrorism court even though the incident was not related to terrorism. However, I successfully argued against their attempt that the case should be heard in the Sessions Court. The police’s biased attitude towards Masih suggests that someone wanted him to suffer by any means necessary.”

He also said, “After four years of trial related to the Bahawalpur incident, the judge sentenced Masih to death in May 2023, but the prosecution failed to present any evidence against him.” From the recent acquittal, he expected that Masih would be again found not guilty on the appeal made in Lahore High Court.

He said, “I am 1,000% confident that if the high court reviews the omission of the prosecution’s statement that was ignored by the trial court, it will dismiss Masih’s conviction,” and added, “God willing, Masih will soon be reunited with his family.”

(Omitted)

Pakistan ranked 7th in the 2024 ranking of countries with the worst Christian persecution in the world published by Open Doors, the same ranking as the previous year.

Source: Christian Today

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:7-10)

We hear that Brother Masih, a believer in Jesus, is on death row for blasphemy and is being viciously punished. We see that natural disasters and persecution of Christians continue in Pakistan.

Although Satan increases the level of suffering and persecution, we believe that God will pour greater grace and faith upon Pakistani brothers and sisters in faith. Please protect them with your righteous hands and help them remember Emmanuel Jesus, who is always with us.

Also, in the midst of persecution and injustice coming from all directions, please help the Pakistani church to confess that God is our Creator and Father, and rather firmly stand as disciples of Jesus.

May the word of life be proclaimed throughout Pakistan so that they can also become a people who hope for the eternal kingdom of God together with us!

May they embrace the hope of heaven and overcome suffering and persecution till the end! May you use Pakistani people to prepare the way for the Lord’s return!