Pakistan’s National Assembly has passed three bills including the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Protection Bill, 2017, the Juvenile Justice System Bill, 2017 and the National University of Technology Bill, 2018. The Islamabad Capital Territory Child Protection Bill aims to protect children from violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). The Act…
An anti-terrorism court has sentenced one man to death, and jailed five others for life in the Mashal Khan murder case. Mashal was lynched by a mob at Abdul Wali Khan University last year over allegations of blasphemy, and 25 other people have been sentenced to four years imprisonment each. The sentencing took place at…
CLAAS recently visited a Christian family in Kot Waris near Gujranwala to help them to get justice for their 13-year-old daughter who was raped. Saira was assaulted by Muslim Amir Zaman last month. A criminal case was registered against Zaman after Saira’s father Afzal Masih complained and medical reports. Apart from meeting the family, CLAAS…
Six churches in Pakistan have been closed with the local government citing security reasons. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) government has sealed at least six non-registered churches in Abbottabad. The district administration of Abbottabad claims that since the churches are being established in rental houses and are not registered, the pose a security risk. The District…
A Pakistani student accused of killing his college principal after allegedly accusing him of blasphemy has been remanded in custody. On Tuesday Charsadda District Court remanded Faheem, of 12th grade, in police custody for three days, over the incident in Shabqadar. Faheem is accused of firing six shots at his college principal, Hafiz Sareer Ahmed,…
President Mamnoon Hussain has announced the Paigham-e-Pakistan fatwa would help eradicate terrorism. Speaking at the launch of the decree at Pakistan House he also said it would be instrumental in reforming those in society who had veered off the right path. The president said the fatwa was a step in the right direction and reiterated…
Pakistan has been placed on a special watch list for “severe violations of religious freedom”, by the United States. The US State Department said the protection of religious freedom is vital to peace, stability, and prosperity, and that the US remains committed to working with governments, civil society organizations, and religious leaders to advance religious…
Punjab’s Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that the government will pass the minority rights commission bill from the provincial assembly. He also said the law minister would take necessary steps to pass the bill from the assembly after consultations. Addressing a special Christmas function at his Model Town residence on December 21 he also…
At least eight Christians have been killed and 57 injured when two suicide bombers attacked a packed Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta, Pakistan while the congregation gathered for Sunday worship. There were at least 400 people in the church. Security personnel took timely action and killed one terrorist, but unfortunately the other terrorist blew…
Another victim of the Youhanabad tragedy has died in jail. Usman Masih, 29, died in Kot Lakhpat jail on December 9, and according to the police the cause of death was a heart attack. Married father of two, Usman, was among 42 Christians accused of lynching two men suspected of being involved in the attack…
