Qaiser Felix

The Pakistani government has launched an offensive to flush out the authors of the massacre that killed 53 people and wounded another 266. Unanimous condemnation from the Catholic Church and the political world, which considers the massacre a Pakistani "9/11". British Airways suspends its flights to the country.

Repeated incursions by the American army into Pakistani territory have "irritated" Islamabad, which has asked for "respect for national borders". A raid by a United States spy plane strikes a munitions depot, killing seven and wounding another three.

The alleged conversion has been found to be invalid, because the girl is just 10 years old. But her sister, who was also kidnapped, has been judged to have married by her own will, because she is "more than 16 years old", although her relatives say she is only 13, and that they will appeal to the supreme court.

In a message to the newly-elected head of state, the president of Pakistan’s bishops mentions support for the president’s party and demands that everyone “may enjoy their just rights as equal citizens” and “be protected from fundamentalist and extremist elements.”

Today in Mariamabad, the village of the Virgin Mary, the 59th national Marian pilgrimage begins. Catholics, Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs will be present at the shrine. Each year, about one million pilgrims from all the religions come to pray to the Virgin Mary.

Police have ordered an autopsy on the bodies of the women, who were killed because they married without their families' consent. It is a widespread practice in some areas of the country where the "law of the tribe" is still in effect. Strong condemnation from human rights activists.

Monsignor Lawrence Saldanha writes to Indian authorities to offer his condolences over events in Orissa. He calls upon the Indian government to take steps to guarantee security to minorities and bring the culprits to justice. To prevent communal violence from spreading, India should go back to the tradition of tolerance that once was its hallmark.

According to the head of the HRCP, Zardari "does not fulfill the objective criteria that a president is expected to meet". Asma Jahangir asks that the new head of state be "neutral", promote "unity", and have no "shadow of doubt on his or her past,", to ensure progress toward "democracy in the country".

Saba and Anila Younas, both Christian, were abducted June 16 by a group of Muslims, and forced to marry and convert to Islam. A doctor’s report establishes that the eldest is 16 years old and thus capable of marriage. Their lawyer announces a legal battle: we will bring it to the Supreme Court.

At least 50 people are killed and dozens are hurt in a double suicide bomb attack against the country’s main defence industry complex. At the same time the country is starting to vet the candidacy of Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, to the presidency. Political parties are however split over the issue.

The executive secretary of the Pakistani Catholic Church’s Justice and Peace Commission talks about the president’s resignation and future scenarios. He hopes that minorities, including Christians, will be allowed a greater role.

The president’s two main opponents call for his impeachment. Musharraf must choose between resigning or forcing the situation with the army’s help. Bhutto’s widow Zardari says 90 per cent of MPs and senators are in favour of the procedure.