(Church elder Zubair Akhtar Khokhar confessed to setting the fire of the Gulberg Presbyterian Church in Lahore after police arrested him following the publication of this story, which follows in its original form. The updated story was published on Nov. 20, 2023)) LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A church building was set on fire in […]
Arson Suspected in Church Fire in Pakistan
Threatening letter left at front gate.
November 17, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
Christian Couple Accused of Blasphemy Win Bail in Pakistan
Police show undue haste in filing case, attorney says.
October 24, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A court in Lahore, Pakistan on Wednesday (Oct. 18) granted bail to a Christian couple arrested last month on blasphemy charges, a rare occurrence in a country where falsely accused suspects spend years in jail awaiting verdicts. Zahid Nazeer, attorney for Shaukat Masih and his wife Kiran Shaukat, said Additional […]
Pastor in Pakistan Admits Wound Was Self-Inflicted, Leader Says
Church leader charged with making false allegations, causing unrest.
October 1, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – Police in Pakistan on Friday (Sept. 29) charged a pastor with making false allegations after he admitted that a gunshot wound he had blamed on Islamic extremists was self-inflicted, sources said. The Rev. Eleazar Sidhu, pastor of a Presbyterian church in Kukranwala village in the Khanuwana area of Jaranwala, Faisalabad […]
Christian Couple Jailed, Charged with Blasphemy in Pakistan
Three young children are left without parents.
September 12, 2023 By - 1 Comment
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – The three young children of a Christian couple jailed on baseless charges of desecrating the Koran in Lahore, Pakistan last week have no relatives to care for them and are extremely upset, a rights advocate. Shaukat Masih, 33, and his 28-year-old wife Kiran have been in judicial custody since Saturday […]
Pastor Shot after Receiving Islamist Threats in Pakistan
Assailants ordered him to recite Islamic profession of faith.
September 4, 2023 By - 1 Comment
Update: Police in Pakistan on Friday (Sept. 29) charged the Rev. Eleazar Sidhu with making false allegations after he admitted that a gunshot wound he had blamed on Islamic extremists was self-inflicted. Full updated story published on Oct. 1. The initial story follows: LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A pastor was shot and wounded by […]
Christians Object to Injustices following Attacks in Pakistan
Police arrest Christians as chief claims ‘foreign conspiracy.’
September 2, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – Church and rights leaders in Pakistan are demanding an investigation into anti-Christian rioting in Jaranwala amid illegal arrests of area Christians and a police claim of a “foreign conspiracy” to create religious strife, sources said. Violent Muslim mobs incited by hard-line Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) attacked churches and homes […]
Forced Conversion/Marriage of Minority Girls Targeted in Pakistan
Supreme Court orders government to respond to complaint.
August 31, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday (Aug. 29) ordered the government to respond to a petition to stop courts from allowing forced conversion and marriage of minority girls in verdicts that act as covers for child rape, sources said. Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ayesha Malik gave […]
Christian in Pakistan Charged with Blasphemy for TikTok Upload
Video posted of content that led to prior attacks in Jaranwala.
August 22, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – Police in Pakistan on Saturday night (Aug. 19) charged a Christian with blasphemy for uploading on TikTok a video of content that last week led to attacks on Christian homes and businesses in Jaranwala more than 100 kilometers away, sources said. Tensions flared over the weekend in 186/9-L village, Sahiwal, […]
Blasphemy Accusation Sparks Attacks on Christians in Pakistan
Two Christian brothers charged after Muslims frame them, relative says.
August 18, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – Instigated by mosque leaders, Muslim mobs on Wednesday (Aug. 16) burned 20 church buildings and ransacked Christian homes and businesses in Jaranwala, Pakistan after a Muslim framed two Christians in a false blasphemy case, a relative said. The rioting began after Muslim residents of Cinema Chowk in Jaranwala, Faisalabad District, […]
Christian Charged with Blasphemy under Pakistan’s Terrorism Law
Move is ‘illegal and illogical,’ attorney says.
July 24, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A judge is allowing a Catholic to be charged with blasphemy under Pakistan’s anti-terrorism law, which his attorney said is “illegal and illogical.” Attorney Rana Abdul Hameed said Lahore Anti-Terrorism Judge Abher Gul Khan on July 6 rejected his application seeking the elimination of the terrorism charges against 32-year-old Imran […]