Shafique Khokhar

Social confinement has been replaced by weaker preventive measures. The World Health Organisation calls for a return to tougher measures. Last Tuesday, more than 5,000 cases were reported in a single day; in late May, they were around 1,700. Punjab police use stun batons against people who fail to respect restrictive measures. For one activist, the government’s approach is confusing.

Police arrested the sons of the man responsible the attack who is still at large. Nadeem Joseph bought the house last month. He and his mother-in-law are in hospital but are out of danger. The attack was motivated by intolerance but the attackers are also cocaine traffickers.

In his medical entrance exam, Kamran Safdar was passed over by Qurʼān memorisers who get a higher score by regulation. Under this system, Christians are the most discriminated group. Kamran wants religious minorities to get the same treatment as Muslims.

Traditionally, many young Catholics are confirmed on Pentecost, but due to the current situation, Confirmation was not possible this time and so it will be done at another time of the year.

The investigation points to a crime of passion, not religion, consequence of an affair between Najma Bibi and a Muslim friend.

For Eid al-Fit, Bishop Indrias Rehmat paid tribute to the city's political and religious leaders. The holiday can “bring us closer and give us the opportunity to sit together and think". In recent weeks interreligious prayers were held seeking the end of the coronavirus pandemic. The celebration embodied a message of brotherhood, peace, love, and coexistence.

Quotas will give minority students greater access to higher education and allow them to qualify for better paying jobs. Priests and activists want to see the law enforced, not just “remain on paper.”

Bishop Indrias Rehmat noted that nature belongs to everyone because it is our common home and everyone benefits from it. Now our common home is weeping over global warming and pollution. It is our common duty to look after it and not waste its resources.

People met yesterday for the Day of Prayer and Fasting. Ordinary believers joined religious leaders in invoking the Lord. For Bishop Indrias Rehmat, only through prayer, fasting and charity can humanity overcome the pandemic crisis and return to normal. God “will listen to us and save us from this pandemic,” said Muslim leader Maulana Mubashar.

At least one wall destroyed and a cross broken. The culprits wanted to take back land already sold to the church. This is a case of reverse blasphemy. For Punjab lawmaker, the cross has value for Christianity and Islam. “Not only was the cross broken, but our hearts were crushed too," said a local Christian.

They want an act of parliament, in accordance with a 2014 Supreme Court decision, rather than a government committee. For Peter Jakob, the cabinet is guilty of contempt the court and has violated its constitutional and international obligations. For experts, without a legislative basis, a commission is useless.

A Muslim educator criticises Punjab’s governor for a proposal that “reflects our traditional minuet that more religion is a sure panacea for all ills. Unfortunately, the results do not support this idea.”