Pakistan

The Sitara-e-Imtiaz, one of the country's highest civilian honours, was presented to the Archbishop Emeritus of Karachi. His exceptional contribution to inter-religious harmony and social well-being was recognised. Fr Bonnie Mendes: ‘He has always invited us to look at the good that there is in Pakistan, even in the most difficult moments’.

Shahbaz, not his real name, was stabbed by his supervisor after refusing to convert to Islam. He was falsely accused of throwing pages of the Qur‘an in the trash. “This is a worrying trend,” Fr Lazar Aslam tells AsiaNews. An investigation by journalist Ahmed Noorani uncovers a racket based on false accusations involving lawyers, officials and judges. Activists are calling for justice and protection for victims.

Human rights activist Xavier William told AsiaNews that access to the only church in a Pakistani correctional facility has been restricted. Opened in 2009, the place of worship was used by about 200 Christian inmates. Former PM Imran Khan is among the prisoners held in the facility. For William, a balance must be found “between security and religious freedom;” he urges prison authorities to “review this decision”.

On 15 March 2015, the 21-year-old died to stop a suicide bomber at St John's Church, saving over 800 worshippers. In Youhanabad, thousands of people gathered to remember him. Fr Khalid Rashid Asi told AsiaNews that the state must learn from his example, and put an end to terrorism and extremism. His cause of beatification is progressing.

Last week in Sialkot, 22 members of the community were imprisoned even though they were innocent, following pressure from Islamic extremists. In Sargodha another 23 were put in jail because they were ‘caught’ praying in a house during the holy month for Muslims. Minarets vandalised by the police in Bahawalnagar. Ahmadi leaders appeal to the State to demand protection and respect for their rights.

Security forces say 155 people were rescued, while the Balochistan Liberation Army says it still has more than 200. The separatists want a prisoner swap within 48 hours. Over the past year, the armed group has shut down major highways and intensified actions against infrastructure, while Islamabad has failed to offer a political solution.

The Balochistan Liberation Army attacked the Jaffar Express, bound for Peshawar. In a statement, the separatist group warned the Pakistani government not to intervene militarily, threatening mass executions. The assault is part of a growing wave of violence by the BLA against the Pakistani state.

The directive applies to both Card holders and those without documents. From 1st April they will be forcibly expelled, but the advice is to ‘leave voluntarily’ before the deadline. Human rights groups are concerned. Meanwhile, at the Torkham crossing, tribal leaders from both sides have signed a truce.

A few days ago, Archbishop Travas presided over the consecration of the parish dedicated to St. Andrew. A sign of hope for the Catholic community in an area of the city marked by serious problems.

For the first time since 2012, Malala Yousafzai has returned to Barkana, in the district of Shangla, under tight security measures. The Nobel Prize winner visited the school and the girls' college she founded, meeting students and their families. Her return comes at a time of great instability for Pakistan, marked by continuous attacks by the Pakistani Taliban and the Islamic State, in competition with each other.

The husband abandoned his 28-year-old wife and three children for another woman. After converting to Islam, he remarried. Now he wants both families to embrace the same faith, so he is putting pressure on his first wife. Christian activist denounces the lack of rules to protect the wife, who cannot divorce.

The Darul Uloom Haqqania madrasa was attacked today, eve of Ramadan, in a town some 60 kilometres from Peshawar. The target of the attack was its leader, Hamid ul Haq Haqqani, a key figure in the ongoing dialogue between Pakistani Islamists and the current Afghan government. The Islamic State-Khorasan Province is probably behind the attack.