austraLasia #1980

Business As Usual in Pakistan…

LAHORE: 8th November 2007 -- The news of the State of Emergency caught us all by surprise. Boys were watching the Saturday evening blockbuster, the Salesians working in many tasks for the new week, Br. Michael Lynch (from the Australian Missions Office) was in Singapore on his way to Lahore and the German Inspection from Misereor was stationed downtown ready for the visit that would start this very week. Suddenly everything turned upside down: we had to stick to the Computer for latest developments (TV channels were already off the air), the boys were asked not to go out the next day after the Sunday mass (100 young men of up to 26 years old can be noisy sometimes…), Br. Michael had to cancel the trip and leave it for a more peaceful time and the team from Germany left on the next flight, afraid to get stuck in the country. 
    Under the State of Emergency the President suspended the Constitution and some rights like that of freedom of speech or freedom of meeting, which imposes heavy economic penalties on those who speak against the Authorities and allows the Army to arrest anybody without questioning. In case society revolts and does not accept the new ruling, Martial Law can be declared… and that is where we stand as of now! 
    So far there have been few incidents and the main Political opposition is not moving much. On our part we continued classes as normal (some school closed last Monday) and requested the students to leave politics aside and focus on their training. Although we have good contacts among the military leadership, our strength and hope rests always in God alone.   

    So far, so good. We will keep you updated if there are developments that affect us. Let us pray that the radical Islamic parties do not seize control of the country taking advantage of the instability because that would be fatal for our presence in the country and the safety of our Christian community, already under pressure in normal circumstances.   
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