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…
A six-year-old Pakistani Christian girl has been shot dead in a debt row. In Faisalabad a Christian family took out a Rs 40,000 loan from a Muslim group of money lenders on compound interest. When they failed to pay back the monthly interest in time the lender along with an armed mob attacked their home…
Members of a Pakistani parliamentary committee have had it is necessary to prevent the misuse of the blasphemy law. On Thursday the chairwoman of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights, Senator Nasreen Jalil, said innocent people have suffered and been wrongly accused of blasphemy. The committee met to reconsider procedural changes to prevent the…
A Pakistani Christian man who is accused of blasphemy has been released on bail. Iqbal Masih was charged under blasphemy law section 298 PPC (Pakistan Penal Code) on November 4. The section states that whoever with the deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person, utters any word or makes any sound in…
The United States has recommended that Pakistan repeals its blasphemy law. At the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) held in Geneva, the US also suggested that Pakistan grant the visit request of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression. Speaking on Monday US representative Jesse…
A Pakistani Christian man with mental health issues who was arrested on the day of his son’s funeral has been charged with blasphemy and is being held in custody. Iqbal Masih, 65, who is a retired father of nine, and is from Fazlia Colony, Lahore, has been on medication for long standing mental health issues.…
