Global Voice for Interfaith Peace, Religious Freedom, and Social Justice. Sandhu is an internationally respected Christian apologist, development practitioner, interfaith leader, social activist, media voice, and political advocate, whose life’s work bridges faith, policy, peacebuilding, and minority rights across national and global platforms. With three decades of leadership spanning South Asia, North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, he stands among the most influential Christian voices advocating for religious freedom, interfaith harmony, democratic inclusion, and human dignity.
Rooted in Pakistan’s complex socio-religious landscape and extending into global policy and faith forums, Sandhu’s work represents a rare combination of theological depth, grassroots development expertise, media influence, and political engagement. His leadership is marked not merely by positions held, but by institutions built, lives impacted, and policies influenced.
A GLOBAL LEADER IN INTERFAITH ENGAGEMENT AND PEACEBUILDING
Sandhu is the founding President of a Christian charity, Interfaith League Against Poverty-USA, Inc. I-LAP, legally established as 501 (c) (3) in the US. I-LAP-US is committed to reach out to the ends of the earth with Good News, providing humanitarian assistance, combatting poverty executing sustainable community development projects, pursuing interfaith dialogues to encourage peaceful coexistence, advocating for religious liberty, and equipping churches around the world by improving access to biblical and theological education. Sandhu is also founding Chairman of the Interfaith League Against Poverty-Pakistan (I-LAP-Pakistan) since 2005, a non-profit organization that has had up to four regional offices, a national office, and as many as 187 employees.
Sandhu is also the Chairman of the Pakistan Interfaith League (PIL), a socio-political platform that has consistently promoted interreligious dialogue, conflict prevention, and social cohesion in a region where religious minorities often face systemic exclusion. Through these initiatives, Sandhu has engaged Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Baha’i and other faith leaders, fostering dialogue rooted in mutual respect rather than token representation.
His interfaith leadership extends globally through his service with the International Network of Museums for Peace, where he played a historic role in founding Pakistan’s first Peace Museum in 2008, and later served on both its Executive and Advisory Boards. This work positioned Pakistan within a global peace education network spanning Europe, North America, and Asia.
Sandhu’s leadership recognized in protecting the rights of persecuted Christians in Pakistan was also recognized by the US Department of State when he was invited to represent Pakistan during the 2019 First Ministerial on Religious Freedom, held in Washington DC. Furthermore, he is recognized by the US Government as an extraordinary leader and ally. The Consular officials consulted with Sandhu in the preparation of the annual Department of State Human Rights Report and its International Religious Freedom Report for Pakistan from 2016 to 2019. Sandhu was also invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Czech Republic in November to attend 2025 Ministerial Conference of the International Religious Freedom Belief Alliance to mark the 5th anniversary of IRFBA.
RELIGIOUS ENGAGEMENT
Sandhu is also Chair of the National Baptist Church of Pakistan and has planted 15 indigenous Baptist churches, including ten permanent church buildings. It is an indigenous Church committed to reach out to the Unreached Peoples Groups (UPGs) to share the Good News.
POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT AND MINORITY ADVOCACY
Sandhu’s impact is uniquely amplified by his direct engagement with political systems. He served as the Central Executive Committee Member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from 2012 to 2018, one of Pakistan’s major political parties. During this period, he was appointed Advisor on Minority Affairs to Imran Khan (2012–2016), who later became Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2018 to 2022.
He was also nominated as a candidate for Pakistan’s National Assembly in 2013 and served as Central President for Minority Affairs, advocating legislative inclusion, protection of minority rights, and equal citizenship. His political engagement reflects a conviction that faith-based ethics must translate into public policy and governance, not remain confined to religious discourse.
Sandhu was also selected to participate in National Security Workshop (NSW 20) provided by the National Defense University of Pakistan. The selection in this esteemed training has two important aspects. First, participants were selected based on their leadership positions in large organizations that have the potential to affect civil security in Pakistan, and which would be called upon to respond in case of war, natural disaster, or terrorist attack. Participants included Senators, high-level military, political leaders, and religious leaders. Second, participants were of sufficiently high profile in Pakistan that they were considered threatened by terrorist assassination attempts; the training was partly meant to help these leaders of civil society to protect themselves.
MEDIA, PUBLIC INTELLECTUALISM, AND THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
A recognized media figure, Sandhu founded Humsub.TV, an award-winning weekly web-based television program reviewing Pakistani media narratives through the lens of justice, minority rights, and ethical journalism. His work earned him the title of Journalist of the Year from Faisal TV and recognition from the National Press Club of Pakistan.
As a public intellectual, he writes and speaks on hate speech, religious freedom, interfaith ethics, and geopolitical conflicts. His recent publications include articles in The Nation and Kentucky Today, addressing Pakistan’s judiciary, rising hate speech against minorities, and global religious dynamics. His voice is valued for its moral clarity, intellectual rigor, and bridge-building approach.
ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
Sandhu holds a Master’s Degree in Christian Apologetics from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of the East, Manila, Philippines. His academic foundation is complemented by advanced international training with institutions such as:
The European Commission, University of Birmingham, World Bank & Carleton University (Canada), Eastern Mennonite University (USA), Peacebuilding and Development Institute (Sri Lanka).
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AND AWARDS
Sandhu’s contributions have been acknowledged by national and international bodies including Federal Ministry of Minority Affairs, Pakistan, Human Rights award by Governor of Punjab, Pakistan, Disaster Aid International (Australia), Interfaith Peace Council, All Churches Fellowship, and multiple peace and media organizations across Pakistan.
WHY SAJID SANDHU’S EXPERIENCE MATTERS
At a time when the world faces religious polarization, shrinking civic space, and rising intolerance, Sandhu brings a rare integrative perspective, combining faith, policy, media, peacebuilding, and political realism. He does not speak about minorities; he speaks from lived experience, institutional leadership, and policy engagement.
He is not only a speaker but a connector, advisor, collaborator, and implementer.
CONTACT AND COLLABORATION
Sajid Sandhu welcomes engagement with:
International organizations
Faith and interfaith institutions
Policymakers and diplomats
Human rights bodies
Academic and peacebuilding networks