Esther John was a Pakistani nurse born as Qamar Zia in 1929 during the British Raj. After converting to Presbyterian Christianity following her studies at a Christian school, she moved to Pakistan in 1947. Seeking to practice her faith freely, she adopted a new name and worked in various capacities, including serving at a mission hospital. Her commitment to Christian evangelism in the villages near Chichawatni eventually led to her death in 1960, resulting in her recognition as a martyr.
Life and work
Born into a Muslim family, she was inspired by the Book of Isaiah to change her faith. She later left her family home to avoid an arranged marriage, moving to Karachi to work in an orphanage. After training as a teacher, she relocated to Sahiwal and dedicated her final years to spreading her religious beliefs in rural areas near Chichawatni.
Death and legacy
She was killed in her bed on February 2, 1960, because of her evangelical activities. Following her death, she was honored as a martyr. In 1998, her memory was commemorated at Westminster Abbey in London, where a statue of her was placed above the great west door alongside other twentieth-century Christian martyrs.