Shafique Khokhar

Activists, NGOs, politicians and ordinary citizens call on the government to adopt a "third way" that includes talks but also a crackdown against those who engage in violence. Criticising the government and its institutions for failing to ensure security, ordinary Pakistanis are "tired" of attacks and want "targeted" operations against violent extremists.

After a series of threats and intimidation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa authorities cancel the launch of the autobiography written by the young girl who has become the symbol of the fight against the Taliban. For activists and civil society the episode is worse than those carried out under dictatorships. Blame laid with Imran Khan, leader of the majority party in the province, who claims to be unaware of event.

In Faisalabad, activists and ordinary Pakistanis hold a candlelight vigil to honour the memory of Aitzaz Hassan and Aslam Khan. They appeal to the Government to drop "fruitless dialogue" with extremists, and take instead "concrete steps" to achieve peace and justice. A prayer vigil was held in Lahore to for unity against terrorism.

According to a recent study, 32% of the population is in favor of the niqab for women. Only 2 % want to be free of all head coverings. For the majority wives must obey the husband, and only 7 % believe that marriage should be based on love. Criticism of civil society, Muslim activist: women must be 'free to wear what they want".

People made this commitment yesterday at a rally organised by the National Commission for Justice and Peace. The event drew some 800 youths of different religions from all over Punjab. National unity requires "unity and harmony" between the country's many groups.

As a political leader and social activist, the 26-year old aims to work for Christian communities and "marginalized" sectors and wants to "serve my country" . Collaborator of the National Commission for Justice and Peace, the young woman oversaw several projects in education, a sector that needs to be reformed . Safety, economy and terrorism priorities to be resolved.

Strengthening of foreign policy, structural reforms and improving education . These are some of demands of participants in the solidarity march 2014, organized by Aman Ittehad activists. Thousands of people marched across Pakistan , expressing solidarity with the victims of fundamentalist violence .

The kidnapper, a Muslim of 32 , acted out of revenge against her mother. There has been no trace if the child, Saba Waris, since June. A court has issued an arrest warrant against the torturer , who has disappeared.

Two Muslim students report a 50 year old Christian for having burned pages of the Koran . In reality it was a text book in Arabic. Efforts of Islamic leader key to saving woman who is now in hiding for fear of retaliation. His invitation to all to "properly evaluate the facts" and not "stir up divisions."

Fr. Bonnie Mendes describes his days in Austrian of meetings, artistic beauty and encounters. He appreciates integration in schools and dialogue between different cultures from childhood. He expresses the hope of the faithful : thanks to the pope and to the charism of Francis, an end to the division between Catholics and Protestants.

A young Christian man converts to Islam to marry a 21-year-old widow, but their families are opposed to the marriage. After months of accusations and mutual complaints, her family seized the groom's 13-year-old sister. For a human rights activist, "The marriage is valid and legal. There are no grounds to cause a row and abduct the child."

Over 300 people from different walks of life attended the event. Among the requests to the Pakistani government, Constitutional reform and end to the blasphemy laws.