Christian Mother in Pakistan Abducted, Forcibly Converted/Wedded

Married Muslim co-worker still threatening her husband.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – A Muslim in Pakistan who twice abducted a Christian mother raped her, fraudulently converted her to Islam and fabricated an Islamic marriage, sources said. The suspect, Muhammad Asif Sadiq, is still threatening her husband, demanding that he return his “wife” and withdraw charges against him, said Asif Maih, […]

Assassinated Christian Lawmaker in Pakistan Honored

Shahbaz Bhatti slain by Taliban gunmen in 2011.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Christian rights activists and church leaders in Pakistan vowed to step up efforts to protect persecuted Christians as they honored the memory of assassinated politician Shahbaz Bhatti on Sunday (March 2), the 14th anniversary of his death. Bhatti, an ardent advocate for a diverse, multicultural and multireligious society, […]

Kidnapped Girl in Pakistan Who Escaped Is Abducted Again

Suspect and accomplice seize her at gunpoint, father says.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – A Muslim in Pakistan who kidnapped and forcibly converted a Christian girl who later escaped has abducted her again, her father said. Salman Masih said that Arsalan Ali again kidnapped his 15-year-old daughter, Muskan Salman, as the family visited their remote hometown, Tando Ghulam Ali in Badin District, […]

National TV Show Dares to Portray ‘Blasphemy’ Violence in Pakistan

Entertainment company lauded for unprecedented treatment of taboo subject.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Church leaders and others in Pakistan lauded the producers and cast of a TV drama for risking their lives to broadcast an unprecedented, national media portrayal of the violent injustice resulting from blasphemy laws. In the final episode of Hum TV’s drama series, “Tan Man Neel o Neel […]

Christian in Pakistan Jailed for 17 Months Wins Bail

Now 18, Akash Karamat accused of blasphemy in three cases.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – An 18-year-old Christian in Pakistan imprisoned for more than 17 months on blasphemy charges was expected to be released on bail next week, his lawyer said. Akash Karamat had won bail on Dec. 19 for one of three blasphemy cases filed against him, and judges last week granted […]

Young Christian Woman in Pakistan Escapes Muslim Captor

18-year-old endures six months of terror.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – An 18-year-old woman has been reunited with her Catholic family after six months of captivity, forced conversion to Islam and coerced marriage to the Muslim who abducted her, sources said. Huma Allah Ditta’s ordeal began when she failed to return home from her job at a call center […]

Inquiry Ordered into Blasphemy Entrapment Group in Pakistan

Islamabad High Court orders establishment of investigative commission.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – A high court has advised the Pakistan government to establish a commission to investigate alleged collusion between the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Islamist clerics to entrap innocent people in false blasphemy charges, sources said. Justice Ejaz Ishaq Khan of the Islamabad High Court on Feb. 2 ordered […]

Christian Girl, 12, Forcibly Converted/Married in Pakistan

Muslim neighbor, 35, takes her to another province, father says. 

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – A married, 35-year-old Muslim neighbor of a 12-year-old Christian girl abducted her and took her to another province, where he forcibly converted her to Islam and married her, her father said. Saba Shafique was abducted by Muhammad Ali from outside her home in the Walton Model Colony No. […]

Muslims Kidnap 12-Year-Old Christian Girl in Pakistan

Parents fear she could be forcibly converted/married or sold into sexual slavery.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Three Muslims in Pakistan abducted a 12-year-old Christian girl at gunpoint from her home and have threatened to sell her into sexual slavery, her parents said. Sumera Gulzar, a Catholic resident of Chak 55/2L village in Okara District, Punjab Province, said that her daughter, Ariha, was abducted […]

EU Issues Warning to Pakistan about Human Rights

Preferential trade status could be in jeopardy.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Pakistan’s preferential trade status could be jeopardized if it does not address human rights concerns, including controversial blasphemy laws, forced marriages/conversions of minority girls and freedom of religion, a European Union (EU) delegation said on Friday (Jan. 31). The delegation led by EU Special Representative on Human Rights […]