The second public seminar was held in Karachi a week after they returned from Islamabad. The news reports from the seminar in Islamabad had been encouraging. The Daily News editor had seen to it that Khalida Ali's article didn't carry any quotes from Blake. Senator Khan's comments were featured instead. The coverage concentrated on statements from Muslim leaders, rather than on Christian concerns. The petition against the blasphemy law was not even mentioned.

There had been no response yet from the Supreme Court. The petition was not scheduled for a hearing, and there was no promise of when it would be. That was discouraging but not fatal. The Supreme Court was clogged with cases, so it often took several months before an initial hearing was scheduled.

Paul had met with Javed and Hassan, after he and Javed had returned to Karachi from Islamabad, to discuss the proposal by the Ahmadis. Javed and Hassan were as surprised by it as Paul had been. None of them, however, was ready to withdraw the petition. Javed was given the responsibility of contacting the Ahmadi community.

Blake had left Pakistan, so there was no question of his speaking in Karachi. The platform would be occupied only by Pakistanis this time. Nonetheless, Paul hoped for some international coverage and had sent a press release to the BBC correspondent in the country.

Javed's wound was healing slowly, so he would not speak at the Karachi seminar. Hassan was to chair the meeting on behalf of the Human Rights Commission, and Paul would speak again. The other speakers would include representatives from three of the Islamic religious parties - Jamat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam, and Sunni Tehreek-and Samuel. Paul was glad that Samuel would be on the platform. His presence would have a calming effect on all the speakers.

Paul came by taxi to the hotel after a number of the speakers had already arrived. In Karachi others were looking after arrangements and security, and Paul was glad not to have those responsibilities. Once again the program began with an invocation by a local mullah and a prayer by a Christian minister. Then Hassan invited the speakers to the platform and, after they were seated, began his introduction.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we have gathered to discuss the protection of the rights of religious minorities in Pakistan. It is important to remember that all the citizens of our country, regardless of their religion, are protected by our constitution. Article 9 requires that all the laws of our land guarantee the security of all citizens. And Section 25 of Article 14 states that all citizens are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law. Therefore, in supporting equal rights for religious minorities in Pakistan, we are not asking for privileges for minorities based on religious differences. We are only urging that the equal protection measures of our constitution be enforced so that religious minorities are afforded the same rights as all other citizens of Pakistan."

Hassan is an eloquent speaker, Paul thought, listening to the lawyer make a few more comments about Pakistani law. Just before Hassan concluded his remarks, Paul noticed Khalida Ali entering the room at the back. He was surprised that the editor of The Daily News had sent her and also that she had wanted to come.

The Muslim speakers reiterated the arguments that Paul had heard on many occasions. First, the Qur'an affirms that there should not be coercion in religious matters. Second, Muslim teaching requires protection for people who have received written revelations from God, which includes Christians, the largest religious minority in Pakistan. And third, Muslims should support the laws of Pakistan that seek to realize these principles through responsible government.

It bothered Paul that none of the Muslim speakers specifically mentioned any of the injustices done to Christians in Pakistan. They confined their statements to supporting general principles. You would hardly know, Paul thought to himself, that Muslims were persecuting Christians in Pakistan from the way they spoke about Islam as supporting justice, freedom, peace and morality.

Once again, because the program ran longer and later than anticipated, there was a break to allow the Muslim participants to leave for their afternoon prayers. This time, however, the Christians were prepared to say their own prayers while the Muslims were praying in the next room. Samuel invited those who did not wish to participate in a time of Christian prayer to step outside into the lobby, where there was coffee available, while the Christians remaining in the room prayed together for justice and peace in Pakistan.

After a few people left, the doors were closed and the remaining Christians began to sing a hymn. It was more familiar to the Protestants than the Catholics, but Paul knew many of the words. "Our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home." The hymns had been carefully chosen in order to avoid words that focused on Jesus. These were hymns that simply expressed faith in God, the Creator, the Sustainer, the Merciful, the Just. "Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all our years away; they fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day." This was a hymn of hope and courage. "Our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, be thou our guard while troubles last, and our eternal home."

Next a Protestant minister read from the Old Testament prophet, Micah, the sixth chapter, where the prophet says that all the Lord requires is that we "do justice, love mercy and walk humbly" with our God.

The second hymn had come from English missionaries. Paul remembered singing it in Birmingham. "If thou but trust in God to guide thee, and hope in him through all thy ways, he'll give thee strength, whate'er betide thee, and bear thee through the evil days." This was their hope. They had to trust in God and not merely in their own ingenuity. "Who trusts in God's unchanging love builds on the rock that naught can move." But they also needed action on their petition to the Supreme Court. Something was needed to break the stalemate. "Sing, pray, and keep his ways unswerving; so do thine own part faithfully, and trust his word, though undeserving, thou yet shalt find it true for thee." Yes, they had to trust in God and not lose hope. "God never yet forsook at need the soul that trusted him indeed."

A Catholic priest then said a few words in prayer before inviting all the people to join in the Our Father. Protestants and Catholics were divided in many ways, Paul thought, but we can pray together as well as the Muslims. After the prayer had ended, the Christians went out into the hotel lobby for coffee where they were soon joined by the Muslim participants.

Paul was sipping his coffee, when Timothy came over to him. "Whose idea was it to have a prayer meeting here?"

"I can't claim the credit. It was Blake who suggested it. He felt the Christians looked weak at the seminar in Islamabad, when we just chatted during the time the Muslims were praying. He suggested that we pray when they prayed in order to feel equal in strength to the Muslims. I think it was a good idea, don't you?"

"Well, I guess so. But I like to pray in church and at home. I don't feel like praying in a hotel, especially with all these Muslims in the next room."

Paul grinned as Timothy strode off. Then he swallowed the rest of his coffee, put his cup and saucer on the table, and crossed the lobby to where Khalida Ali was sitting. "Ms. Ali, I'm glad to see that you are here."

"It's my job, Fr. Paul."

"Of course. Nonetheless, I'm glad to have coverage of the seminar by The Daily News. How do you evaluate the first half of the seminar?"

"You've heard these arguments more often than I have. I was hoping for something more original this time."

"Perhaps, Ms. Ali, you'll be challenged Samuel's comments. Thank you again for coming."

What a tough case, Paul said to himself. I may have to get someone to call her editor again, just to be sure the story comes out all right.

Back in the meeting room he spoke to a few other persons briefly, before returning to the platform. After everyone was seated, Hassan introduced Samuel, who walked slowly to the lectern and stood silently for a moment before beginning his comments.

"I'm honored," he began, "to be speaking today with such distinguished leaders of our city. I certainly have nothing to add to what has been said about Islam. I appreciate very much that our Muslim friends believe they are commanded by God through the teachings of Islam to respect the rights of all persons and to protect the Christians who are a minority community in Pakistan. I also have nothing to say about the laws of our country. It is very clear that all citizens of Pakistan should be equally protected."

"My experience of many years, however, tells me that not all Muslims share the views of our distinguished speakers, nor do all citizens support the equal protection provisions of Pakistani law when it comes to conflicts that concern members of the minority communities."

Paul marvelled at Samuel's speaking ability. He had only a grade school education, yet he read widely and spoke like a statesman. If he had been born a Muslim, he might have risen to be a major political leader. Samuel was without equal as a spokesman for the Christian community.

"This regrettable reality can be changed, of course, by strong leadership on our part. We can work together to inform the public of the law. Muslim leaders can communicate to their constituencies the high standards of respect and responsibility to which all Muslims are called. By doing so, Muslim leaders will encourage a spirit of tolerance and reverence among the young who wish only to be faithful to the commandments of God. Similarly, Christian leaders can encourage responsible behavior on the part of the youth of their communities by rejecting anger and talk of revenge for any injustice that has been inflicted on Christians. Our way forward must be marked by courage, a willingness to speak and accept the truth, and a commitment to nonviolent methods of working for justice and our lawful rights."

Paul could hardly keep from chuckling out loud. In his quiet, humble way Samuel had just let the Muslims know that the Christians were prepared to engage in mass nonviolent protests, if the government did not provide adequate protection for minorities in Pakistan.

"When I was a boy," Samuel continued, "I was struck by the story of Abraham. He was called by God to journey to a strange land, where he was alone and afraid. But he trusted in God, and God gave him the land and descendants to inhabit it. Generations later St. Paul wrote that Abraham was the example of what it meant to have faith in God. He said that all Christians were the spiritual descendants of Abraham, if they trusted in God as he had trusted in God."

Paul wondered, watching Samuel's gleaming eyes, where he was going with this line of argument. Lifting both hands from the lectern to gesture forcefully, Samuel raised the level and intensity of his voice.

"When I was older I learned that Muslims also looked to Abraham as a man of faith and recognized him as their ancestor through his son, Ishmael. Therefore, despite our different religious traditions and communities, Muslims and Christians share this great example of faith, Abraham, who is the father of the religious life of our Muslim and Christian communities. May our respect for Abraham remind us that we are all children of one God, that we are all called to be faithful as Abraham was faithful, and that we are all charged with responsibility for justice and peace on the earth that God has given into our hands."

Paul wouldn't have thought it possible for a Christian to preach to Muslims and Christians together, but Samuel had done just that. He had succeeded in creating a common ground for the two religious communities that might be affirmed by both. In his humble but articulate way, he had played the role of a prophet. The applause that continued while he returned to his seat suggested he had succeeded, even with the Muslims speakers who went out of their way to congratulate him.

This gives Khalida Ali something to write about, Paul thought, if she accepts the challenge. It might be interesting to read the papers tomorrow.

With his mind racing, Paul stood and began to move toward the lectern. How could he follow Samuel's statement? If he moved back to legal issues, it would seem far less convincing and even redundant. If he continued with a more theological statement, he might make a mistake and offend some of the Muslims. Moreover, as a Roman Catholic priest, he might even say something that would offend the Protestants. He glanced at Khalida Ali, knowing that she would jump on any slip he made. He recalled the passage from John's gospel where Jesus tells his disciples that after he is gone the Spirit of truth will guide them into all truth. I need that guidance now, Paul thought, as he reached the lectern.

Before he could begin, however, he heard the sound of breaking glass in the hotel lobby. The doors at the back burst open and a crowd of angry men began to surge into the room. The participants in the seminar were on their feet now. Some of the Christians tried to form a line at the back of the room, in an attempt to block the advance of the crowd, but the pressure was too much for them and the line was quickly broken. Members of the audience began to shove their way toward the platform to get away from the fighting at the back of the room. A few had picked up chairs and were holding them feet forward, as shields to protect themselves.

Joseph leaped to the platform and began to lead the speakers out of the room through a door that had been concealed by the curtain at the rear. Paul was relieved to know that an escape plan had been prepared, and he motioned to Samuel to follow the others. Paul was torn between wanting to stay to help the Christians in the room and fleeing. He hesitated, until he saw half a dozen men break for the platform and heard them shouting, "There's the blasphemer! Get him!"

Gripped by fear, Paul turned and ducked through the door. On the other side Joseph quickly barred it and directed Paul to follow the others. They fled through a service door, turned left down a hallway, and then went out an exit at the rear of the hotel. Joseph pushed Paul into a taxi with Samuel while the other speakers were led by their bodyguards to vehicles stationed there. Before any of the men in the attacking crowd had managed to get out of the hotel to try to stop them, the cars pulled away into the street with their tires squealing.