Shafique Khokhar

Masheel Rasheed was also sexually abused by her abductors. The father had tried to report the incident to the police, but received no support. Now he and his daughter live in hiding because they fear reprisals from Muslim extremists.

The faithful arrived at the shrine by different means from all over the country to offer gifts and prayers. The event, which lasted three days from 8 to 10 September, was attended by hundreds of people. According to Fr. Khalid Rashid Asi, the shrine is the best place to "open one's heart to Mary".

Despite the outrage over events in Jaranwala, Pakistan’s blasphemy legislation continues to be abused. A Christian couple is arrested on suspicion that their children might have desecrated the Qur’an. Amidst high tensions, Shaukat and Kiran Masih are jailed. Meanwhile, in Tandlianwala, another city in Faisalabad district, Christians have been forced to flee their homes at night under threat from Islamist extremists.

Eliezer Sidhu, head of a Presbyterian church, was first forced to recite Quranic verses. After the attack he was rushed to the hospital, from where he explained that those responsible for the attack are the same ones who have been smearing the walls of churches with Islamic writing for weeks. Human rights defenders say this is one of the worst times ever for Christians in Pakistan.

The fear after the attacks on churches and homes of Christians for an unlikely accusation of blasphemy. Bishop Rehmat's message from the United States where he was visiting: "Let us pray to God for peace and ask the government of Pakistan for justice". The vicar general Fr. Tanvir: "The arrests and the ban on gatherings come late, the police could have prevented the violence. The blasphemy law should be changed immediately". The president of the Bishops' Conference visited the victims.

In the district of Faisalabad, 21 places of worship and the homes of Christians were devastated by a mob fueled by Islamic extremists. Hundreds of people were forced to flee. The Christian accused of writing outrageous phrases against the Koran is actually an illiterate, The president of the Pakistani bishops Mgr Arsad: "Our people are not safe. A transparent investigation into this violence to re-establish the primacy of law and justice'.

Participants in a conference on minority rights on Thursday urged the government to respect its commitments to establish a national commission to protect the rights of Christians, Hindus and members of other religious minorities. Everything done so far has proven ineffective. Voice for Justice Chairman Joseph Jansen is troubled that “peaceful demonstrators demanding an end to [. . .] atrocities find themselves subject to arrest and mistreatment”.

The Heal Foundation organised a meeting attended by about 150 people. For Fr Abid Tanveer, vicar general of the Diocese of Faisalabad, “we have to sensitise people to change their behaviour towards disabled persons” through inspiration in Jesus.

Human rights groups report that more than 10,000 women and girls have been victims of sexual violence in Pakistan in the first four months of the year, especially among religious or ethnic minorities. The latest cases include a chilling attack against a child in Sahiwal district.

The interfaith movement held a rally to demand action from the city and the entire country for social and religious peace during the holy month. The demonstration was attended by leaders of different denominations

Zaki Masih is a Christian and was arrested by the police in Sargodha. A dispute over land was the real reason for the complaint; even the imam came to his defence. Minority rights activists in Pakistan are increasingly concerned about the escalation in the country's use of accusations cloaked with religious motives.

They are not recognised as Muslims in a country where Islam is the state religion and are persecuted by extremists in the complacent silence of the government with the support of large portions of the police force. Cases of arrests, persecution and harassment have increased, especially on the Feast of the Sacrifice.