Pakistan (MNN) — Violence spikes ahead of a nationwide vote in Pakistan.
The Islamic State shot and killed one election candidate as he campaigned on Wednesday. It’s the second murder of its kind since January 10.
“It is a pivotal time in Pakistan because [of] an election that takes place next week on the eighth,” says Mark*, a Gospel worker serving with Global Catalytic Ministries.
“[It is] a very tense time; the country’s on edge.”
Several candidates’ houses and offices were also attacked in Baluchistan this week. Pakistan’s Election Commission summoned an emergency meeting with security officials yesterday to discuss the “deteriorating” law and order situation.
“There’s a lot of conflict on the border; there are multiple terrorist attacks against Pakistani government facilities and local nationals,” Mark says.
Pakistan flag (Photo courtesy of Abuzar Xheikh/Unsplash)
On January 18, Iran added another layer of uncertainty. Seemingly unprovoked missile attacks from Iran on Pakistani soil brought the neighboring nations close to open conflict. Foreign ministers met quickly to dial down tensions, but Iranian aggression left an indelible impression on Pakistan.
Officials are “saying, ‘Look, don’t mess with us. We have nukes.’ They’re literally saying that on the news in Pakistan,” Mark says.
“They’re not afraid to fight back. I think they’re just holding back till after the election.”
The Lord is moving despite chaos and uncertainty in Pakistan. Recently, “We were praying, and two Sunnis came to our house, gave their [lives] to the Lord, and were baptized,” Mark says.
“They were having visions of angels, and they felt called and directed by God to find us. They were under persecution from within their own faith, so they came in desperation. They said, ‘If I can have anything today, I just need Jesus,’” he continues.
“They gave their [lives] to the Lord, and we’re discipling them. We need to pray for an increase of this across the entire Middle East because it is a season of harvest. We’re going to make disciples amid the chaos.”
Learn more about GCM here, or download a free prayer guide to intercede for church planters working in dangerous places.
*Pseudonym
Header image is a representative stock photo depicting the Minar of a Masjid in Faisalabad, Pakistan. (Photo courtesy of Asfand Yar/Unsplash)
