Christians in Pakistan pray for Nigel Farage and Ukip to win general election - video

Pastor Francis Bashir says Ukip are the only party that stand up for Christians and the Commonwealth

Pastor Francis Bashir praying for Ukip (Ruptly) (Ruptly)

The growth in popularity of Ukip in the last few years has been massive.

But now it appears the party’s appeal spreads far further than first thought - and well beyond the UK’s borders.

A bizarre new video shows a congregation of Pakistani Christians praying for Nigel Farage and Ukip in a bid to help them gain victory in the general election.

Instead, Pastor Francis Bashir says he is putting his support behind Ukip because it stands up for Christians and the Commonwealth.

Pakistan’s Christian community of 2.5 million has been the target of increased persecution in recent times, with the number of attacks against it's members increasing in regularity.

Last month saw at least 14 people die and dozens more injured in twin bombings at two churches in Lahore. Other similar attacks have left Pakistani Christians fearing for their safety.

According to Bashir, he was first made aware of Ukip when someone on Facebook asked him to pray for the party and was impressed by Farage’s pledge to stand up for Judeo-Christian values.

Bashir got his son to call Farage and said that after the leader personally answered the call, the “love in the church’s hearts for him increased.”

Since then, Bashir has covered the church in Ukip’s purple colours and conducts regular services in which churchgoers are asked to pray for Farage.

Responding to the support, Mr Farage said he was “very touched by the prayers”.