Qaiser Felix

Bishops’ Conference Chairman, Mgr Lawrence John Saldanha, tells AsiaNews that the case of Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, arrested on March 9 by order of President Musharraf, is becoming increasingly political.

Without any evidence angry Muslims torture Sattar Masih, 28, for allegedly blaspheming against Muhammad. Police moves in but only to arrest him. He was supposed to get married the following day.

A group of mullah incites the population and the government to prohibit the creation of a small city of “heretics”. The police give in and destroy the perimeter wall of the Armadiya cemetery.

The President of Pakistan’s Minorities Alliance has appealed to the Pakistani Supreme Court to intervene against attempts by students and Islamic religious to “talebanize” the country, which risks the destruction of the country’s economy and international image.

Local Christians celebrate Holy Week with faith and religious fervour despite violent attacks against the community and false blasphemy charges against some of its members. A brother of one of the alleged blasphemers is arrested without charges.

Blasphemy accusations have been made against five Christians, the youngest a 16-year-old, after a quarrel between boys that was blamed on the 11-year-old. Local Christians are afraid that he might become the target of violence.

Toba Tek Singh police open an investigation into blasphemy claims against five local Christians, including 11 year old Daniel. Local activists and priests say the case has been fabricated to target innocent people who have nothing. Christian families barricade themselves in their homes, fear could affect Holy Week celebrations

Three women captured by female students of a madrassah were freed today, one of them forced to “immoral behaviour”. There is increased concern that the entire country may become prey to a form of Taleban violence. The president of Pakistan Minorities Alliance tells AsiaNews: “It is wrong to leave justice in the hands of small groups and not in the hands of the law”.

A mob of some 150 Muslims in Punjab stormed the home of Amanat Masih, a Protestant charged with burning some pages of the Qur’an. Police intervene after hours of torture and arrest him.

They know the human sorrows that bearing witness can bring about in a Muslim country. They prepared for Easter by fundraising and doing penance.

Various human and minority rights groups demonstrate in solidarity with Christian inmates in Adiala prison. Prisoners have gone on hunger strike almost a week ago to protest prison administration’s decision to deny them the right to conduct religious functions.

Following the removal of Pakistan’s Chief Justice Chaudhry, the chairman of the Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan reiterates the importance such pillars of democracy. Despite opposition from some Muslim circles, senior-most justice Bhagwandas is set to become the first Hindu to head Pakistan’s Supreme Court as a result of Chaudry’s suspension.