Category: Pakistan

Pakistan: “Campaign Launched to Protect Christians from U.N. Resolution”

Pakistan: “Campaign Launched to Protect Christians from U.N. Resolution”
— Christian Post reports:
— “A ministry working with persecuted Christians launched a campaign Tuesday against a U.N. resolution that many human rights groups say can be manipulated to oppress religious minorities living in Muslim-majority countries.”
— “The Defamation of Religions Resolution, backed by the 57 Muslim-majority countries that make up the Organization of Islamic Conference, is expected to be proposed next month or later this year. It seeks to criminalize words or actions that are deemed defamatory towards a particular religion.”
— “Rights groups, however, warn the resolution could be used to legitimize anti-blasphemy laws and intimidate human rights activists and religious dissenters. Critics say instead of protecting adherents of religions, including religious minorities, the resolution protects religions themselves.”
— “Open Doors, the group that launched the new campaign, pointed to the recent anti-Christian rampage in Gojra, Pakistan, where Muslim mobs killed and burned Christian homes based on a blasphemy rumor. At least seven Christians were killed and more than 100 homes were looted and burned in the Gojra attack.”

Pakistan: Extremists Justify Bombing U.N. World Food Program

Media reports on extremists’ rationalization of bombing of U.N. World Food Program in Pakistan as being “in the interests of Muslims”

— AKI: “Taliban claim responsibility for deadly UN blast”
— AKI reports Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq quoted as stating: “We proudly claim responsibility for the suicide attack at the U.N. office in Islamabad. We will send more bombers for such attacks,” he told The Associated Press by telephone from an undisclosed location. “The U.N. and other foreign (aid groups) are not working in the interest of Muslims. We are watching their activities. They are infidels.”

— AP reports: “Taliban militants claimed responsibility Tuesday for the deadly suicide bombing at the U.N. food agency’s heavily fortified compound in Islamabad, saying international relief work in Pakistan was not in ‘the interest of Muslims'” — “Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq confirmed his group was behind the bombing and lashed out at foreign aid workers.”

Pakistan Christian Post: “Attack on Gojra Christians was supervised by government of Pakistan”

Pakistan Christian Post: “Attack on Gojra Christians was supervised by government of Pakistan”
— Pakistan Christian Post reports: “Faisalabad: October 5, 2009. (Joshua Lahro reports for PCP) The Christians of Gojra openly blamed government of Pakistan to hatch conspiracy to attack on them on August 1, 2009, and protected Islamic militants who burnt alive 7 Christian women and children and destroyed 60 homes here today when US Aid officials reached in Gojra Town to distribute cash and relief goods.”
— “It was big gathering at a Catholic Church in Gojra named St. Albert Church at 4:00 PM where US Aid officials arrived in company of Pakistani Christian selected leaders in parliament to distribute goods and cash among Christian victims of Islamic militants violence.”
— “The Christian youth of Gojra protested against monetary aid to them and threw boxes of aid out of Church and raised slogans ‘We not want money or any aid but justice’ ‘Withdraw cases registered against us'”
— “The Muslim police of Gojra on intimation of Government of Pakistan and Government of Punjab registered cases against 129 Christians to conspire violence on August 1, 2009. The cases were also registered against Muslims but all were released on bail by Lahore High Court.”
— “It is on record that Islamic militants attacked Christian Town Gojra and burnt alive seven Christians and gunned down 4 more while set on fire 60 houses but police registered cases against Christians. The police is demanding bribe of fifty thousand Rupees to one hundred thousand from Christians to take out their names from FIR and arresting those who deny to pay bribe. Police says that Christians must pay because they have money which government gave them as compensation.”
— “The Gojra Christians also raised slogans on occasion of distribution of US Aid ‘Not want cash but withdrawal of fabricated cases against them’ ‘We do not need aid but we need justice, protection and equal rights’
— “Mr. Pervez Rafiq (M.P.A PPP), Mr. William Rose (member dist. council Fsd), Mr. Khalil Sindho (M.P.A PML(N), Mr. Dost Khosa (Muslim M.P.A PML(N) ) and Mr. Joel Amir Sahotra were also with officials of US Aid.”
— “Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress PCC condemned government of Pakistan to register false cases to conspire violence against 129 Christians and demanded immediate withdrawal”
— “‘Christians shall socially boycott selected Christians in Punjab government and Federal government if fabricated cases are not withdrawn against Christians of Gojra’ said Nazir Bhatti”
— “Nazir S Bhatti urged Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities and Kamran Michael, Minister in Punjab government to use their powers to withdraw false cases against Christians of Gojra or to face social boycott.”
— “‘Repeal blasphemy law to end violence against Christians in Pakistan’ demanded Nazir Bhatti”

Pakistan “Honor Killing” based on “Karo-Kari” — Kubra Bibi – mother of two, strangled

— Pakistan Daily Times: “Husband strangulates wife over karo-kari”
— “A mother of two was strangled to death by her husband over karo-kari at Noorani Basti near Chakra Goth in the limits of Zaman Town police station.”
— “Police officials said that 25-year-old Kubra Bibi, a resident of House No 852, Sector 40, Noorani Basti, was killed by her husband named Ghulam Sheikh.”

— “In Pakistan honor killings are known locally as karo-kari.”

— Amnesty International report on honor killings and karo-kari

Pakistan Mob Tortures Women, Forces Them to Walk Naked in Public

— Dawn: “Three women tortured, forced to walk naked in public”
— Dawn reports: “No case has been registered against the mob that attacked the women and publicly humiliated them.”
— “LAHORE: Three women, accused of prostitution, were tortured by an angry mob and were later forced to walk naked on Multan Road in Phoolnagar, Kasur, a private television channel reported on Monday.”
— “A large number of people attacked a house in Jambarkalan village, torturing the women — including one Shahnaz — for alleged involvement in prostitution and running a brothel in the village.”
— “The victims said the accusations against them were baseless. They said they had a property dispute ongoing with Union Council Nazim Ilyas Khanzada who wanted to occupy their house illegally. The women have accused him of planning the assault on their home.”
— “Khanzada confirmed the women were tortured by the mob. He, however, denied plotting against them.”
— “Meanwhile, no case was registered against the mob that attacked the women and publicly humiliated them.”

Pakistan: End Blasphemy law Conference by PCC on October 24, noticed in Pope-Zardari meeting

Pakistan: End Blasphemy law Conference by PCC on October 24, noticed in Pope-Zardari meeting

Pakistan Christian Post reports:

Echoing this statement is news from Islamabad that the Pakistan Christian organizations have called for a national conference on October 24 to demand the abolition of the blasphemy law wrote AsiaNews referring Zar
The ‘need’ to overcome all forms of discrimination based on religion emerged from meetings today between the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, and Pope Benedict XVI in Castel Gandolfo and Secretary of State cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who was accompanied by the Secretary for Relations with States, Msgr. Dominique Mamberti reports AsiaNews

A statement released by the Vatican Press Office states that ” The cordial discussions provided an opportunity to examine the current situation in Pakistan, with particular reference to the fight against terrorism and the commitment to create a society more tolerant and harmonious in all its aspects. Talk then turned to the positive role played by the Catholic Church – continues the statement – in the social life of the country through her educational, healthcare and aid activities. Evoking recent episodes of violence against Christian communities in some localities, and the elements that have favoured such serious incidents, emphasis was given to the need to overcome all forms of discrimination based on religious affiliation, with the aim of promoting respect for the rights of all citizens”.

Pakistan Christian Congress PCC announced to hold All Christian Parties Conference on October 24, 2009, to decide strategy to launch movement to press upon government to repeal blasphemy law.

AsiaNews further reports “The same argument was also addressed by Zardari in his talks with Italian politicians, in which the Pakistani president said the government of his country will take steps against the abuse of the blasphemy law. Moreover, on 18 September, during a state visit to London, Zardari had promised greater government vigilance, but human rights organizations in Pakistan say the president’s words remain an unrealistic goal that ignores the reality of the situation.”

Pakistan: “7 more girls escape from Women Crisis Centre” — fear to be killed by relatives

(Pakistan) 7 more girls escape from Women Crisis Centre
— Pakistan Daily Times: “The girls fled from the centre after a girl was killed by her two brothers in the premises of a sessions court in Peshawar on September 26 when the centre officials brought her to the court. The official sources said that the girls fled from the centre the same day after the murder fearing their deaths at the hands of their relatives. It was the second incident as two other girls had fled from the centre on August 26. Noor Zaman, father of one of the girls, has filed a case against the centre management in a local court.”

Pakistan: “Honor Killing” of Daughter and Boy

Pakistan’s Punjab: Young boy, girl shot dead in Sargodha
— Pakistan’s The News: “Father shot dead his daughter and a young man in the name of honour in Farooqa Town of Sargodha.”
— “Police sources told that a man Sajjad opened fire when he found his 18 year old daughter with a young man Mubbashir, killing both of them on the spot.”

NYC: Repeal blasphemy law in Pakistan. Rev. Fr. Ilyas Gill

NYC: Repeal blasphemy law in Pakistan. Rev. Fr. Ilyas Gill

Pakistan Christian Post reports:

“A delegation of Pakistani Christian Diaspora in USA called on Federal Home Minister of Pakistan Mr. Rehman Malik and demanded repeal of blasphemy law here on September 25, 2009.
Mr. Malik was in New York in official delegation of Pakistan headed by Asif Ali Zardari President of Pakistan to participate in General Assembly Session of UNO in New York.

The Christian delegation comprised of religious leaders Fr. Ilyas Gill, Rev. Samie Samson while Manny Alam, President – Pakistani-American Christian Association , Thomas Bhatti, President- Christian League of Pakistan in America, Victor Gill, President – Christian Voice of Pakistan, Inc. and William Shahzad, Chairman – Pakistani Christian Association of USA represented political groups.

The delegates urged on “Election, Not Selection” and repeal of blasphemy law in Pakistan.

Mr. Babar Khokhar, James Gill, Javeed Khokhar, Tariq Masih, James Cyprian and other leaders of PCA were also present in meeting.”