Fareed Khan

Salman Taseer: "exploited" by extremists to target religious minorities, who instead should be "protected". Christian leaders: “important statements”. The cancellation of the norm is decided by the central government which must "inform" the citizens of the violence. The list of anti-Christian persecution in the Punjab.

A human rights group expresses concern over “increasing incidents of violence” against religious minorities. Fanatics enjoy impunity thanks to complicitous prison guards. The government is blamed for not prosecuting people responsible for such crimes. Police has not yet registered a first information report on the murder of a 20-year-old Christian man in Sialkot prison.

Police attack mourners during the burial ceremony. Witnesses say police used tear gas against the crowd, injuring some and arresting others. Police claims it had to move in to prevent “further disturbances”. Catholic leaders renew call for the repeal of the blasphemy laws.

Fanish, 20, was arrested last Saturday. His death was “judicial murder” according to human rights activist. The day before a Muslim mob attacked members of the dead man’s Christian community, setting fire to their church. Pakistani extremists are funded by Saudi “charities.”

The call to hunt Christians launched at local mosque after the Friday prayers. The mob stormed and set fire to the church, ransacked two houses. Muslims accuse a young Christian had desecrated the Koran. In reality the young man is involved with a Muslim girl.

Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti confirms he was the subject of intimidations. He says however that he is ready “for any kind of sacrifice for his people”. All he wants is justice for the victims of Gojra and compensation for survivors. The National Commission for Justice and Peace continues its action to repeal the country’s blasphemy laws.

A Muslim association blames three Catholic priests and a layman for the violence in Gojra. The Punjab government stops paying out the compensation it had initially allocated for victims. The Christian community wants the blasphemy law repealed and the guilty punished.

In three years 11 thousand complaints, of which 8 thousand are still pending. Provincial governments unable to prosecute the guilty. Record of violations in the province of Sindh, where out of 6 thousand cases only 783 have obtained justice. Pakistani Minister for Human Rights admits financial difficulties and lack of funds.

Activists, minority lawmakers and religious leaders are united in peaceful protest against the country’s blasphemy laws. This is their response to fundamentalist attacks and their way to get the Pakistan government to repeal the laws. Amnesty International backs the fight for minority rights in Pakistan.

Peter Jacob, executive secretary for Justice and Peace, stresses that the government is "more sensitive" than before to violence against minorities. He adds, however, that change is only possible through a "mass movement". Human Rights Commission warns: attacks against Christians in Gojra "premeditated" and executed with the complicity of the police.

The official death toll in the Gojra massacre now stands at eight. A 35-year-old man succumbs last night to injuries he sustained during the attack by Muslim fundamentalists. Rights activists and minority leaders believe the government condones such attacks by tolerating laws that punish offences against Islam. The Catholic Church of India and Geneva-based World Council of Churches express their solidarity with fellow Christians in Pakistan.

Mgr Saldanha calls for more decisive government action to protect the Christian minority, forced to “defend itself alone”. He launches an appeal “to protect the Christians of Pakistan.” Christian leaders shut down all Christian schools and institutions to protest the violence. The Pope sends a telegram for the victims.