Shafique Khokhar

Dewan Bahadur S P Singha is on new 10-rupee stamp. He opted for Pakistan in a critical vote in the Punjab legislature at the time of partition. Christians and Muslims welcome the recognition, a sign that Pakistan is trying to promote interfaith harmony.

Hundreds of people took to the streets yesterday in favour of ‘a living wage’. Trade unions denounce the exploitation of women and children as well as low wages. The Asian Human Rights Commission slam collusion between officials and businesses.

Journalists and activists criticise Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s speech after the Easter attack. For them, terrorists “are not afraid of slogans”. Public opinion wants more action, less talk, like the implementation of the National Action Plan. Military operations in Punjab are a failure.

Christians and Muslims from civil society say the government only preaches against terrorism, but is afraid of losing the votes of Muslim extremists. Solidarity in blood donations for the wounded in the city's hospitals. Sit-in of Islamic extremists in Islamabad to criticize the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri, Salman Taseer’s killer. Concerns about possible murder of Asia Bibi. Calls for a commitment to eradicating fundamentalism from textbooks, courts, and public discourse.

Despite a decision by the National Assembly to allow Christians to celebrate Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, some members of the religious minority, such as sanitation workers, continue to be subject to discrimination. Still, the decision is a step forward for the equality of all citizens under the law.

The resolution was presented by a Hindu deputy. Activists working on behalf of minorities appreciate the decision. Others point out some shortcomings: the holidays will be reserved only for religious minorities and not to the entire population. Focus needed on concrete respect for minority rights.

After almost five years of captivity, the son of the former governor – killed for his opposition to Islamic extremism – was released. Now he is in a safe place with his family. “Perhaps this release is a sign of the times, mature enough for a necessary change of course strongly advocated by Pakistan’s civil society,” said a Justice and Peace official. For a human rights activist, “authorities seem to be on the right path, but they have a long way to go”.

Christians, Sikhs, Hindus and Kalasha present joint study on personal / family laws and the effects of their absence in Pakistan. Minorities demand to be respected like the Islamic majority. In this way they would retain their identity in the broader socio-cultural context. Among the topics discussed, marriage, divorce, dowry, inheritance, adoption of children.

The execution of former Governor Salman Taseer ‘s assassin has sparked much debate among Islamists and those who condemn the executions, but consider that in some cases they are justified. The hanging of Qadri is "to accept as being part of the process and to save innocent lives in the future." It shows that the institutions are "ready to seriously challenge the extremist mindset."

Tahira, 21, and Reema Bibi, 20, were abducted near their home last December. The Muslim men who took them, raped them and forcibly married them, and then kept them segregated. At least 1,000 Christian women are forcibly converted in Pakistan each year. If they escape, the police arrests a family member.

Lala Robin Daniel, activist and president of the National Minorities Alliance of Pakistan, issues an appeal through AsiaNews, calling on political leaders to protect minority groups, as required by secular and Islamic laws. Article 27 of the Constitution and ILO convention, which Pakistan signed, are clear. Shari'a also requires employers to treat employees "as brothers”.

Qaisar Jahan began to work at the MC Girls High School in Faisalabad in November 2015 bringing water to students. When the headmistress found out that he was a Christian, she told him to do the janitorial work and not deliver water. He refused saying, “I shall not bend in front of this kind of people”.