The Church of Pakistan expresses its deep sorrow and unequivocal condemnation of the reported terrorist attack on Saint George’s Orthodox Church in Karak, Jordan. We extend our sincere condolences to the bereaved families, pray for the recovery of the injured, and stand in prayerful solidarity with the Orthodox Church and the Christian community in Jordan. From Pakistan, we affirm that religious freedom is a fundamental human right, not a privilege, and that every state has a responsibility to protect all communities and ensure that everyone can worship without fear. May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ comfort those who mourn, strengthen the wounded, and inspire all people to stand together for a world where everyone can live and worship in safety and freedom. #Jordan #Karak #ReligiousFreedom #ChristianSolidarity #ProtectPlacesOfWorship #ChurchOfPakistan

Count these words The Church of Pakistan expresses its deep sorrow and unequivocal condemnation of the reported terrorist attack on Saint George’s Orthodox Church in Karak, Jordan. We extend our sincere condolences to the bereaved families, pray for the recovery of the injured, and stand in prayerful solidarity with the Orthodox Church and the Christian community in Jordan. From Pakistan, we affirm that religious freedom is a fundamental human right, not a privilege, and that every state has a responsibility to protect all communities and ensure that everyone can worship without fear. May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ comfort those who mourn, strengthen the wounded, and inspire all people to stand together for a world where everyone can live and worship in safety and freedom. #Jordan #Karak #ReligiousFreedom #ChristianSolidarity #ProtectPlacesOfWorship #ChurchOfPakistan

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV The Holy Father Vatican City Your Holiness, On behalf of the Church of Pakistan, and in my personal capacity, I wish to convey my heartfelt prayers and fraternal greetings to Your Holiness during this time. You remain in my prayers as I ask Almighty God to surround you with His unfailing love, sustain you with His strength, and grant you renewed health and a swift recovery. May the presence of Christ bring you peace and comfort, and may you continue to experience the loving care of God in every moment. Together with Christians across Pakistan and throughout the world, I join in prayer for your well-being, trusting in the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Lord bless and uphold Your Holiness. With prayers and fraternal regards in Christ, The Most Reverend Dr Azad Marshall Moderator and President Bishop, Church of Pakistan Bishop of the Diocese of Raiwind

Remembering Our Martyrs All Saints’ Church, Peshawar — 22 September 2013 Thirteen years ago, on 22 September 2013, our brothers and sisters gathered at All Saints’ Church, Peshawar, for worship, prayer and fellowship. They could never have imagined that this peaceful Sunday would become a day of profound sorrow. Children, young people, mothers, fathers and grandparents lost their lives, leaving families with wounds that remain to this day. Thirteen years have passed, but we have not forgotten. We remember our martyrs, the wounded and survivors, and every family that continues to carry their loss. You are not forgotten, and your loved ones are not forgotten. As Christians, we hold firmly to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: “I am the resurrection and the life.” — John 11:25 And we remember the ancient Christian witness expressed in the words, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” — Tertullian Those who attacked the church could take lives, but they could not destroy our faith, silence our witness, or take away our hope in Christ. Today, we pray for Pakistan—a country where every person can worship without fear and live with dignity, security and mutual respect. May the memory of our martyrs lead us not to hatred or revenge, but to faith, courage, justice, reconciliation and peace. Our martyrs are gone from our sight, but never from our hearts. May their witness strengthen us, and may God grant eternal rest to the departed, comfort to their families, healing to the wounded, and peace to our beloved Pakistan. The Most Rev. Dr. Azad Marshall Moderator/President Bishop, Church of Pakistan Bishop of Raiwind 22 September 2026

Nomination of Jane Lynch for U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom On behalf of the Church of Pakistan, I warmly congratulate Ms Jane Lynch on her nomination as U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. At this critical moment, we pray that her leadership will strengthen the global defence of freedom of faith and stand with all persecuted communities. #ReligiousFreedom #InternationalReligiousFreedom #ReligiousLiberty #JaneLynch #AmbassadorForReligiousFreedom #RFI #USForeignPolicy #HumanRights #FreedomOfReligion #FaithFreedom #ReligiousMinorities #ProtectReligiousFreedom #USDiplomacy #GlobalReligiousFreedom #Pakistan #ChristiansInPakistan

Founder’s Anniversary Message on International Literacy Day, September 8, 2026 On the anniversary of IBADAT—the Institute for Basic Adult Development and Training, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and profound appreciation to our teachers, trainers, managers, field coordinators, administrative personnel, partners, and all those who have faithfully contributed to this remarkable journey. Since its establishment in 1989, IBADAT has remained committed to transforming lives through adult literacy, vocational training, and practical skills development. From Karachi to Peshawar, well over half a million learners have been empowered to read, write, acquire useful skills, support their families, and participate more confidently in the life of their communities. This achievement belongs to every dedicated member of the IBADAT family. Our teachers have carried the light of learning into communities where opportunities were often limited. Our managers and field teams have turned vision into action through commitment, perseverance, and careful stewardship. Many have worked quietly, often under difficult circumstances, yet their service has restored dignity, awakened hope, and opened new possibilities for countless women and men. As Founder, I thank each one of you for believing in IBADAT’s mission and for serving with compassion and dedication. Buildings and programmes alone do not transform lives; transformation takes place through people who are willing to teach, encourage, guide, and walk alongside others. You have been those people. As we celebrate this important milestone, let us give thanks to Almighty God for His faithfulness throughout the years. May He continue to strengthen IBADAT, bless everyone associated with its ministry, and enable us to reach many more communities with the gifts of literacy, knowledge, skills, and hope. Happy Anniversary to the entire IBADAT family! Together, let us continue to educate minds, develop skills, restore dignity, and transform lives. With gratitude and every blessing, The Most Rev Dr Azad Marshall IBADAT — Institute for Basic Adult Development and Training

On #DefenceDay2026, we honour Pakistan’s Martyrs, Ghazis, veterans, serving personnel and their families. We proudly also remember the Christian heroes who served and sacrificed for Pakistan, including Cecil Chaudhry, Mervyn Middlecoat, Peter Christy, W.D. Harney & Eric Gordon Hall. As a member of the Paigham-e-Aman Committee, I reaffirm that Pakistan’s greatest strength is unity, peace and mutual respect. Let us build a nation where every citizen, regardless of faith, serves with dignity and hope. May God protect Pakistan and bless all who defend and serve our homeland. Pakistan Zindabad. #DefenceDay #MartyrsDay #Pakistan #Shuhada #Peace #InterfaithHarmony

Nurse Rabia Noreen bravely saved babies at PIMS where a deadly fire engulfed the baby unit. Her courage must not hide her trauma and grief. We thank the Government for recognising her her heroic efforts; the Church commits to pray for her and I call on all Church across Pakistan to remember her in your daily office and prayers. With all she saw and did, she will need to know that Christ holds her close and ministers to her in her own healing. In her endurance and defence of life, we see Jesus: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life.”

Today our hearts are with the Church and people of Iran. In the midst of the anguish and uncertainty of war, the Church also mourns the passing of our dear Mehri Sharifian, faithful wife and fellow labourer of the late Rev Nusratullah Sharifian of St Luke’s, Esfahan. When I first became Anglican Bishop in Iran, one of my earliest tasks was to seek out Rev Sharifian and Mehri and help restore them to the worshipping life of St Luke’s. I went looking for a priest and found a family; I went hoping to strengthen an isolated church and found myself shepherded by two faithful servants of Christ. Their hospitality, sacrifice and steadfastness remain part of the living heritage of the Church in Iran. Today Mehri has been laid to rest. We grieve with Babek, Shehre, Abtin and the whole Sharifian family, yet we grieve in Christian hope. Christ has received His faithful servant into His rest. And to our brothers and sisters across Iran: you are not forgotten. In these difficult times, we stand with you in prayer—for protection, peace, courage and the continued witness of Christ’s Church in that ancient land. God is not finished with the Church in Iran. May His Kingdom come, and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Archbishop Dr Azad Marshall Moderator/President Bishop Church of Pakistan & Bishop of Raiwind, Former Anglican Bishop in Iran

On the eve of Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day, I sat with Mrs Nasreen Sadeeq and her four children, whose husband and father was brutally murdered this past week. We spoke, we grieved, and then we prayed. Together we prayed the prayer our Lord taught us: “Our Father…” And as we prayed, little Jessica, barely two and a half years old, joined us, saying the words with us. It was a precious and painful moment. A little girl calling upon her Father in heaven while beginning a life in which her earthly father will never come home. Tonight, as Pakistan prepares to celebrate Azaadi, I cannot escape the question: what does freedom mean for little Jessica and her siblings ? We are grateful for every officer, advocate Azaadi, I cannot escape the question: what does freedom mean for little Jessica and her sibling. But justice is not a box to be ticked with one arrest or one prosecution. Will we commit to seek a way out of the conditions in which Christians and other religious minorities continue to experience violence, forced conversions, abductions, false accusations, discrimination and everyday exclusion. Seventy-nine years after independence, no Pakistani child should have to inherit fear because of her faith. I appeal to those in positions of influence, lawmakers, law-enforcement, religious leaders and fellow citizens: let us make the protection of our most vulnerable people a measure of our freedom. Let us refuse silence when a neighbour is threatened, excluded or harmed. Can we dream of a Pakistan in which the promise of equal citizenship reaches every home. Pakistan’s Christians have prayed for this land, served this land and sacrificed for this land. We belong to Pakistan, and Pakistan belongs to us too. We can certainly pray for this Pakistan with the humble hearts that God requires. Tonight I especially pray for Nasreen, Jessica and her siblings. And with them, I pray the words little Jessica prayed today: “Our Father…” May our Father in heaven have mercy upon this grieving family, and may He give us the courage to make our beloved Pakistan a land of justice, dignity and genuine Azaadi for all.

Today, I had the honour of leading a delegation of faith leaders from IMRF to the Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan on the occasion of International Justice Day. I extend my sincere appreciation to the Honourable Chief Justice, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, and the esteemed Judges of the Federal Constitutional Court for their gracious reception and for reaffirming the constitutional principles of justice, equality, religious freedom, and the protection of the fundamental rights of all citizens. Our engagement reflected a shared commitment to advancing interfaith harmony, upholding the dignity of every community, and fostering a Pakistan in which all citizens are assured equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal protection under the Constitution. As representatives of diverse faith traditions, we remain dedicated to collaborating with all institutions that uphold justice, promote peace, and safeguard human dignity for every Pakistani. May Almighty God continue to bless Pakistan with justice, peace, wisdom, and unity for all. #InternationalJusticeDay #ReligiousFreedom #InterfaithHarmony #JusticeForAll #Pakistan #Peace #HumanDignity

We extend our sincere and heartfelt congratulations to Dr. David Anderson of the Bridgeway Foundation in Maryland on his appointment as a United States Commissioner on International Religious Freedom. This distinguished honor reflects both his longstanding commitment and the profound trust placed in him through this important responsibility. We wish Dr. Anderson wisdom, courage, and discernment as he undertakes this vital role in promoting and safeguarding the fundamental right to religious freedom for all. We look forward to the continued strengthening of our collaboration in advancing justice and upholding the dignity of every individual.

At a special luncheon hosted by Her Excellency Natalie A. Baker, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States, to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, Christian leaders gathered in a spirit of friendship, fellowship, and mutual respect. Opening the gathering, The Most Rev. Dr. Azad Marshall, Moderator/President of the Church of Pakistan, expressed his appreciation, saying: “Thank you, Excellency Natalie A. Baker, Chargé d’Affaires, for hosting this luncheon to celebrate 250 years of the United States of America and for bringing together a distinguished group of Christian leaders.” He then congratulated the people of the United States on this historic milestone, offering prayers for God's continued blessing upon the nation and upon all those who work for peace. Archbishop Marshall shared a personal reflection from 1976, when as a student he attended the American Bicentennial celebrations in Tehran. He recalled the memorable atmosphere of those celebrations and reflected on how, years later, he would be called to serve as Bishop of Iran. Reflecting on present-day international developments, Archbishop Marshall observed that while the United States and Iran continue to occupy significant attention in world affairs, there remain enduring human connections and shared aspirations that transcend politics—relationships built on faith, friendship, and mutual respect. He expressed gratitude to God for the leadership of His Excellency Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir Ahmed, Chief of Defence Forces of Pakistan, acknowledging the significant role they have played in encouraging dialogue, promoting regional stability, and contributing to efforts that foster peace and understanding. Drawing upon the Christian vocation to be peacemakers, he expressed his hope that the future would be marked by greater understanding between nations and a renewed commitment to peace, reconciliation, and human dignity. Archbishop Marshall then led those gathered in prayer, thanking Almighty God for the opportunity to come together in friendship and fellowship and expressing gratitude for the hospitality of the United States Embassy and the leadership of Ms. Baker. He gave thanks for the blessings bestowed upon the United States throughout its 250-year history and prayed for strengthened friendship between the peoples of the United States and Pakistan. He further prayed for wisdom for national leaders, success in efforts that promote dialogue and peace, courage for those engaged in reconciliation, and God's blessing upon all present and the meal shared together. The luncheon provided a meaningful opportunity for Christian leaders and diplomatic representatives to celebrate a significant historical milestone while reaffirming their shared commitment to peace, mutual understanding, and constructive international friendship.

On behalf of the Church of Pakistan, I extend my deepest and heartfelt condolences to the Honourable Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, Speaker of Punjab Assembly on the sad demise of his beloved elder sister. We share in your grief during this time of profound loss and sorrow. The passing of a loved one leaves a void that words can hardly fill, yet we pray that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will comfort your heart and grant strength to you and your family. You and your sister’s family are in our prayers.

Message by Archbishop Dr. Azad Marshall On the Anniversary of Marka-e-Haq – Operation Bunyan Al Marsoos On this significant anniversary of Marka-e-Haq – Operation Bunyan Al Marsoos, we stand in full solidarity with our Armed Forces. We recognize and appreciate the visionary leadership that has guided our nation through challenging times. We especially thank Almighty God for the leadership of Field Marshal and Chief of Defence Forces, Syed Asim Munir, and the Prim minister of Pakistan prayer that God Almighty grant them continued wisdom, strength, and courage in serving the nation. On this occasion, I call upon all citizens, regardless of faith or background, to remain united, to reject divisions, and to work together for the progress and stability of Pakistan. True strength lies not only in defense but also in our shared commitment to justice, peace, and harmony. We offer our prayers for the families of our martyrs, for the injured, and for every soldier who continues to serve with honor. May God bless Pakistan with enduring peace and prosperity, and may He grant our Armed Forces the courage to continue their noble mission. Pakistan Zindabad.

My dear Kapil Sharma I have been reflecting with gratitude on the kindness and steadfast support you have shown me, especially since we met in Dubai . Now in season marked by uncertainty, your presence, care, and genuine concern have been a great source of strength and encouragement. You have not only become a family, a trusted friend but a person of remarkable integrity and generosity. If one were to measure a man by the love and care he extends to others, it is no surprise that you have been blessed with such success. I thank God for your friendship. May He continue to prosper you, grant you wisdom in all your endeavors, and bless your home with peace and joy. Please convey my warmest wishes to your family.

At this important moment, we extend our prayers and best wishes to our leadership as they host and facilitate dialogue between global powers. May God grant wisdom to all leaders involved, and may these efforts lead to lasting peace and stability in the region. Pakistan hamasha Zindabad Archbishop Azad Marshall Church of Pakistan