Shafique Khokhar

Another Christian girl was kidnapped for marriage. Her captor is known and there are witnesses against him, but even the court hearings have not yielded any results. For Human Rights Focus Pakistan, Pakistan’s new government should adopt a proposed bill against forced conversions.

The attacker, now in custody, struck Muhammad "Chacha" Sharif in the stomach in broad daylight, then slit his throat. He was shouting hateful phrases during the attack. Local sources speculate disputes over a sum of money behind the act.

The girl, who was on her way to work as a domestic, was shoved into an autorickshaw by two men. It is feared that, like in similar cases, her kidnappers will present a certificate of conversion to Islam in order to register a marriage. For Human rights activist Lala Robin Daniel, “We will stage a sit-in in Faisalabad and stay with the victims’ families until the courts take concrete action against the culprits”.

Shagufta Kiran was arrested in July last year for allegedly spreading blasphemous content on WhatsApp. She goes to court next Monday. Meanwhile, her husband and her children express their pain.

The incident sparked protests and a sit-in on Grand Trunk Road. Another attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa killed three Pakistani soldiers and three children. For the Anglican bishop of Peshawar, thugs tried to disturb the peace and interfaith harmony in the city.

Aleeza Naeem has been missing since 13 March. An only child, she was allegedly kidnapped by three Muslim men on her way to school. The family filed a complaint with police, but in vain. As in other cases involving minorities, the victim was kidnapped to be forcibly converted to Islam and given in marriage. Rights advocates appeal to the government to pass a bill to ban forced conversions.

Solemnly inaugurated by Archbishop Joseph Arshad, the church is located in Rawalpindi district, home to many industries, near the archaeological site of ancient Sirkap. Before, “there was no church in Taxila,” said Fr Shamaun, the new parish priest. “It is a true miracle [. . .] after more than 25 years of battles”. The church will draw locals but also pilgrims.

He went to Poland to bring aid to refugees fleeing war. Warm clothes, food and medicine are needed. “I heard heartbreaking stories," the Pentecostal clergyman told AsiaNews.

A primary school teacher is the likely suicide bomber. Since the start of the year, militants have carried out at least three major operations against Chinese targets and members of Pakistani security forces. China has urged Pakistan’s new government to take action.

In February, Muhammad Sharif tried to kidnap seven-year-old Jessica Pervaiz. His trial is not over yet. For Human Rights Focus Pakistan, “This is the ideal time for new legislation in favour of minorities”.

Lahore High Court convicted 88 people in connection with the death of Sri Lankan-born factory general manager killed by a mob. Six defendants get the death penalty. For Pakistani human rights groups, this is an Important step, but those unjustly jailed for blasphemy deserve justice.

The International Lawyers Forum invited Card Coutts as well as other Christian, Hindu and Sikh leaders for an iftar meal at the Markazi Jama mosque to break the Ramadan fast. The archbishop emeritus of Karachi hopes that such gatherings are not limited to special occasions.