About the Prisons Mission Society and its founder Rev Maurice Shahbaz

Rev. Maurice Shahbaz, Director of the Prisons Mission Society of Pakistan

Introduction of the “Prisons Mission Society”

I have received great life experience during my imprisonment in Pakistan and have seen bitter difficulties and problems of prisoners and their families.

I  received a life sentence in July 1986. I had a crucial experience during the time when I was in prison for 12 years due to injustice. There I observed closely how people suffered in the prisons without hope. Sometimes due to their illness and many other reasons they cannot see any light in their dark future. Even very skilled inmates do not have the chance to improve their lives anyway.

But I set the challenge by completing my education from Matriculation, F.A, B.A, Diploma in further studies in Urdu, Diploma in further studies in Punjabi & M.A. I was in prison, living among them and I became the example, that education could make us acceptable in the society again. I have done Master of Divinity from Gujranwala Theological Seminary Gujranwala Pakistan. Even criminals can be educated.

I was put in prison when I was 13, due to none of my fault in the case, but God made it possible, that I got released after 12 years. At the time of my release, I decided to serve the community which I left behind in the prisons. My aim is to love and serve all human kind. In 1999 after my release, I founded “Prisons Mission Society.” It is officially registered in the Government of Pakistan.

“Prisons Mission Society” is working for the welfare of prisoners in the field of education, health and social sectors, and to promote the education skills of prisoners as well as their character, and make prisoners useful citizens and a part of development of this country. We try to hook (outreach), heal (emotional & spiritual restoration) and help (transitional assistance) them, and create a better world for prisoners.

Prisons Mission Society is:

1- Helping up to 300 prisoners improve their academic qualifications, and providing books, stationary, matriculation, F.A., B.A., classes in prisons.

2- Providing better health facilities and educating prisoners about health. This is done is through seminars, workshop, camps inside prisons on HIV/AIDS and drug prevention by the cooperation of the Government of Pakistan and Jail authorities.

3- Helping the prisoners in paying their fines for their release.

4- Providing advocacy, resources, education, mentoring and fellowship throughout the duration of the prison sentence in advance of the inmate’s eventual release back into the community.

5- Coordinating national and international prison ministries /churches / institutions and exchange experience.

6- Fighting for equal rights for prisoners (freedom from discrimination on the basis of characteristics such as race, sex, color, etc).

7- Providing 170 educated and qualified Teachers/Pastors/Doctors and Professors inside different prisons of Pakistan.

PMS wishes to extend further its projects:

1- Needs vehicles for Missionary work.
2- Needs funds for the office building of PMS. For the time being we are working in a rented office).

Your prayer is fruitfulness for our program, which would be a great blessing and encouragement for us. We encourage you all to extend your hand to help those who are extremely in need of your assistance. Thank you.