In a significant development, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad acquitted 10 individuals accused of burning a church during the Jaranwala riots of August 2023. The verdict, delivered by ATC Judge Javed Iqbal Sheikh on Wednesday, cited insufficient evidence presented by the prosecution.deccanherald.com The acquitted individuals, including Ausaf Ali, his sons Shamoan and Saleem Ali,…
In a landmark step toward protecting the rights of minors, President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday signed into law the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2024, which sets the minimum legal age for marriage at 18 years for both boys and girls. The legislation aims to curb child marriage and safeguard minors from…
A deeply alarming incident of alleged abduction and suspected forced conversion has surfaced in the city of Wazirabad, Punjab, where a 15-year-old Christian girl, Afia d/o Pervaiz Masih, has been missing since May 20, 2025. Her disappearance has sparked grave concerns among human rights organizations and minority communities. According to the First Information Report (FIR…
In a controversial development, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has rejected a newly passed bill aimed at banning child marriage in the Islamabad Capital Territory, calling the proposed legislation “un-Islamic” and contrary to Shariah principles. The decision has triggered concern among human rights activists, minority groups, and women’s rights advocates across the country. The…
Lahore, May 26, 2025 — In a case that has sparked serious concern among human rights advocates and minority communities, a local court in Lahore has handed over a 16-year-old Christian girl to a 32-year-old Muslim man she claims to have married, despite ongoing questions surrounding her age, the legality of the marriage, and possible…
In a major legislative breakthrough, Pakistan’s Parliament has passed the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2024, which seeks to ban child marriages in the federal capital by setting 18 years as the minimum legal age for both boys and girls. The bill, introduced by MNA Sharmila Faruqui of the Pakistan People’s Party…
SIALKOT, PAKISTAN – A 35-year-old Christian labourer was brutally tortured to death in Jamkay Cheema, Sialkot, allegedly by a former police officer over an unproven accusation of mobile phone theft. The main suspect, Irfan Malik—a former police inspector—was sent to jail by the court on May 24 following several days in police remand. The incident…
A 28-year-old Christian labourer, Asif Masih, died in hospital on May 5 after allegedly being brutally tortured by a group of men associated with a local Muslim landlord in the village of Saho Ki Malian, located in the jurisdiction of the Housing Colony Police Station, Sheikhupura district, Punjab. According to the First Information Report (FIR)…
In a significant move to safeguard the constitutional and human rights of Pakistan’s religious minorities, the Senate has passed the National Commission for Minorities Bill, 2025, paving the way for the formation of a permanent and empowered body to monitor violations and promote the rights of minority communities. According to the bill, the newly established…
Lahore, Pakistan – April 7, 2025 — In a rare and significant legal victory for a persecuted Christian family, the Lahore High Court has ordered the immediate return of 14-year-old Ariah Gulzar to her mother, Sumera Gulzar, months after the child was abducted from their home in Punjab. Ariah was kidnapped at gunpoint on January…
