Qaiser Felix

Good meeting between Pakistan and Israel, says Archbishop of Lahore

Archbishop of Lahore: "A great decision, the law went against personal freedom". A Muslim lawyer told AsiaNews: "It was a wrong law, promulgated to make fundamentalists heads of the province".

NGOs and opposition parties complain that the second phase in the election process was marred by government fraud, chaos and rigging. Voters still required to vote along confessional lines.

Despite guarantees from the diocese, the vicar-general and the bishop, the German Embassy in Pakistan has denied hundreds of visas to those who wanted to attend the twentieth World Youth Day.

Despite his newly found freedom, Yousaf Masih's life is still at risk. He is in hiding to avoid Islamists' threats. Islamic political parties still call for his death, whilst minority rights activists announce a national campaign against the Blasphemy Law.

Yousaf Masih was arrested in June. Even his family now live in terror: some of his relatives have already been sacked from work.

Opposition is developing to Musharraf's decision to repatriate foreigners studying at Pakistani religious schools.

President Musharraf urges the nation to go on a 'holy war' against the terrorists and justifies cracking down on madrassas. Islamic parties protest on Friday in the name of religious freedom.

More condemnation from Muslim religious and political representatives, who are urging the government to act by closing Koranic schools which teach hate and integralism.

NWFP Provincial Assembly adopts Hasba Act. Opposition parties and the federal government reject it as unconstitutional and unIslamic, call for a Supreme Court ruling.

Villages and farm lands flooded

Rail accident a national tragedy