Shafique Khokhar

In his letter, Pope Francis appoints the new vicar whose motto is “Service, peace and development”. In a world divided by colour, culture, creed, language, into East, West, North and South, there is an urgent need for peace and harmony that are possible through reconciliation and dialogue.

The Rwadari Tehreek movement held a rally after people die in custody and in fake clashes with police. Anyone responsible for such serious abuse must be brought to justice and tried “in line with international standards,” said Samson Salamat, the movement’s chairman.

Experts and activists are demanding that teachers, parents, students and education experts be involved in the policy process. The interests of students must be protected without any discrimination. Imposing Islamic studies on non-Muslims will drive many away from school. The education budget should be increased.

Seven more families will be able to pay off their debt thanks to the generosity of AsiaNews readers. Some 50 families also received food parcels. Now free, Amir and Asima can continue their love story. Muslim businessmen praise the initiative. For one of them, “without your help they would not have made it”.

Asma Bibi, 26, and her husband Munawar Masih, 28, talk about the misery and slavery of living in a brick factory. Joy and gratitude for their debt paid thanks to the AsiaNews campaign. Now their three children will be able to go to school and will be able to have a house with a toilet.

Civil society groups criticise the government’s minority rights watchdog at a seminar organised in Karachi by the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Church of Pakistan. The “Minority Commission is not the one we recommended. It should be based on its own bylaws, principles and criteria without state interference.”

Thanks to the generosity of some AsiaNews readers, 52 families were helped to pay off their debt to kiln owners who had forced them to work as slaves. Now their children can go to school and are no longer forced to pay for their parents' debt. Some of them told their stories.

The content sparked a social media campaign. In a letter to Pakistan’s prime minister, Prof Anjum wrote that “racism is a crime against humanity and is the enemy of pluralism, peaceful coexistence and social harmony.”

At the ceremony commemorating the centennial of the “Nankana massacre,” Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics minister claims that Pakistan respects and protects non-Muslims whilst India commits ‘atrocities” against them. Activists and clergymen are dismissive of such claims. Rev Bashir cites a long list of abuses, from sexual assault to false accusations of blasphemy.

The Archbishop of Rawalpindi-Islamabad’s Lenten message sets the path for Easter. The 40 days are a time “to change our lives” by “taking care of the poor”. Praying “can happen at any time and in any place”.

It is the second case of blasphemy against Christians since the beginning of 2021. According to plaintiff Haroon Ayub Masih and Salamat Mansha Masih wounded the feelings of Muslims as they preached the gospel in Model Town Park. The first was arrested, while the second managed to flee but his family lives in hiding in fear of retaliation.

“The challenge for me will be to work for Communion within the clergy; communion within the parishes; Communion with the Protestant brothers and finally Communion with all the people who live in Pakistan”.