by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (Worthy News) – A Christian teenager died Wednesday after he and another Christian were shot by suspected Muslim gunmen in northwestern Pakistan, sparking fear among local believers, investigators told Worthy News.
The young man, identified as 18-year-old Silas, was “a resident of Father Colony in Peshawar,” the capital of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to LEAD Ministries, a Christian advocacy group.
He passed away “after battling critical gunshot wounds for several days” following the “deadly shooting incident” in Peshawar, LEAD Ministries added.
Residents said armed men opened fire on two Christian boys several days earlier, leaving both seriously injured. Silas remained hospitalized after the attack, but his condition worsened due to the severity of his wounds, according to Christians familiar with the situation.
His death has “deeply shaken the local Christian community, where believers say minorities continue to face growing violence, harassment, and intimidation in different parts of Pakistan,” LEAD Ministries said.
FEAR AMONG PAKISTAN CHRISTIANS
Residents of Father Colony described the shooting as “another painful reminder” of the insecurity faced by Christians in the Muslim-majority nation.
Pastor Imran Amanat, leader of LEAD Ministries, condemned the killing and urged “the government and law enforcement agencies to conduct a transparent investigation, arrest those responsible, and ensure justice for the victim’s family.”
However, mourning community members said “repeated attacks” on minorities are often met with “silence” and an “inadequate response from authorities and political leaders.”
Pastor Amanat told Worthy News that “Christians in Pakistan continue to live in fear.” He added that “Violence, harassment, and discrimination against minorities must not be ignored,” while expressing solidarity with the grieving family.
LEAD Ministries asked supporters to pray for the victims and their families while continuing to document violence, harassment, and persecution against Christians in Pakistan.
PAKISTAN WORLD WATCH LIST
The organization added that it “supports minority communities through church planting, women’s empowerment programs, and pastoral care initiatives.”
Pakistan ranks eighth on the 2026 World Watch List published by the advocacy group Open Doors International, which monitors persecution against Christians worldwide.
Open Doors said Christians in Pakistan face “severe discrimination, violence, and intimidation,” often fueled by the country’s controversial blasphemy laws, “forced marriages and conversions of Christian girls, social exclusion, and attacks by Islamic extremists.”
Church leaders and rights advocates say Christians are frequently among the poorest segments of society and remain vulnerable to false blasphemy accusations, mob violence, and targeted attacks.
Community leaders in Peshawar appealed to authorities to strengthen security measures in minority neighborhoods and ensure equal protection under the law.
They stressed that justice for Silas and stronger safeguards for minorities are essential to restoring confidence among Pakistan’s Christian community.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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