Nine Pakistani Christians who were arrested after being accused of being involved in the aftermath of the Youhanabad tragedy have been granted bail. Lahore High Court heard from CLAAS’s lawyer Tahir Bashir who argued that the police had falsely implicated them in the case. It granted Riaz Masih, Nazir Masih, Tariq Masih, Arshad Masih, Asif…
The Pakistani Government has been asked to provide better security for its minorities, by its own Interior Minister. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar has asked the provincial home departments to conduct a security audit for minority communities and prepare a special security plan for including Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Ismailis and Bohras, by next week. It comes…
The police have registered a case against 700 people who attacked the Christian colony Sandha, Dhup Sarri, Lahore after accusations were made against Christian Humayun Faisal for burning Quranic pages. On May 24 the Muslim mob attempted to burn Humayun alive and set a local church on fire. But after a long scuffle, the police…
The Anti-terrorist court of Pakistan has denied bail to 18 Christians who are in custody in connection with the lynching of two Muslims in Youhanabad and a violent attack on the Metro. Yesterday CLAAS’ lawyers appeared at court to to make the application, but Judge Mr. Muhammad Qasim, dismissed the bail application. There is 30…
A draft bill has been finalised by the government, and will next be put before the government for approval. To combat the growing abuse of the law, the proposal will also introduce severe penalties against those who make false allegations of blasphemy. Prepared by the interior ministry, the legislation aims to make sure that vigilantes…
Christian homes and a church have been attacked by an angry Muslim mob after blasphemy allegations were made against a Christian man. According to reports, on May 24 the gang opened fire, threw missiles and threatened to kill Christians in Sandha, Lahore, after Humayun Masih, 27, was accused of burning pages of the Holy Quran.…
An Anti-Terrorism Court of Pakistan has charged 106 suspects with beating and burning a Christian couple in a brick kiln furnace in Kot Radha Kishan, last November. They had been falsely accused of desecrating the Holy Quran. The indictment of the 106 came after the police submitted a challan (charge-sheet) against the suspects at the…
The appeal of self-confessed killer Mumtaz Qadri has been granted, while innocent Aasia Bibi is still waiting for a hearing date. Qadri has confessed to killing former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer over alleged blasphemy remarks, and has been granted leave to appeal his death sentence. After hearing his lawyer’s arguments, the judges decided on five…
Unfortunately Youhanabad’s tragedy still continues. Originally 69 families had contacted CLAAS for legal aid help as their loved ones were missing. CLAAS is trying its level best to get justice for all the victims who have been charged under the anti-terrorism act, public nuisance and disorder and in connection of the lynching of two Muslims.…
Pakistan is one of the worst countries in the world for religious freedom not currently designated by Americas as a “country particular concern, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has found. In its annual report the commission said that Pakistan continued to experience “chronic sectarian violence”, targeted towards its minorities – including Christians.…
