It's burnt cars and threats for “career oriented” Catholics in Pakistan

He was given a promotion just a couple of months ago. Ilias Bhatti, 36, a graduate in economics was appointed branch manager of a bank in the Pakistani city of Lahore, a position which he had earned on the field.  

Sacrifice, commitment, smart moves and especially lots and lots of hard work. Indeed, two months ago, his efforts were rewarded with a promotion to the position of Branch Manager. But there is one problem. Ilias is Catholic and has never hidden this fact.

An essential difference in Pakistan today, where religious minorities, Christians in particular, suffer violence and discrimination on a daily basis.

And in fact, as referred by Vatican Insider's local sources, the first reactions came from some Muslim colleagues: ferocious jokes, gossip, some “veiled” threats.

"A bank manager - explain sources in Lahore who prefer to remain anonymous - has does have visibility and social importance. According to the mentality of Islamic fundamentalists it is intolerable that such a role be covered by a Catholic; in their opinion, this is a real insult."

So, the veiled threats became more explicit. Telephone calls in the night and anonymous letters of unmistakable intention: "Leave this place unless you want to be killed." "Go away or we will kill you and your family." Ilias has a Catholic wife who teaches in a prestigious private school in Lahore, and a six year old daughter.  Some warnings are aimed directly at the child:  "Step back, otherwise we will  kidnap her."

The other night, the warnings became even more “convincing”: someone set fire to the car belonging to the Catholic bank manager.  They had warned him:  "First the car and then the house." This was too much and Ilias finally gave in. Now, along with his family, he lives hidden somewhere down there, in the “land of the pure”.  Another small but great victory of fanaticism.