LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A Christian sentenced to death in Pakistan on blasphemy charges six years ago was acquitted by a high court in Lahore on Monday (Oct. 5), sources said. Sawan Masih, a 40-year-old Catholic father of three, had been handed the death sentence in March 2014 after a Muslim friend accused him […]
Christian Sentenced to Death for ‘Blasphemy’ in Pakistan Acquitted
False allegation destroyed Christian area in 2013.
October 6, 2020 By -
Another Christian Sentenced to Death in Pakistan on Weak Blasphemy Charges
Father of four accused of sending text messages defaming Muhammad.
September 8, 2020 By -
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A court in Lahore, Pakistan today (Sept. 8) sentenced a Christian to death over charges that he allegedly sent “blasphemous” text messages to a Muslim colleague seven years ago, his lawyer said. Asif Pervaiz, a 37-year-old father of four, has been in jail for seven years since he was charged […]
Christian Girl Kidnapped in Pakistan Says Muslim ‘Husband’ Raped, Threatened Her
Maira Shahbaz escapes, says she was coerced into stating she converted, married.
August 27, 2020 By -
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – The Muslim who regained custody of a 14-year-old Christian girl he had kidnapped threatened to kill her and her family unless she gave court statements that she had married him and converted to Islam of her own free will, the girl told Morning Star News. Maira Shahbaz, who escaped […]
Pastor Jailed Since May after Standing Up to Land-Grabbers in Pakistan, Relatives Say
Bail hearings continually postponed; charges are baseless, they say.
August 25, 2020 By -
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A church pastor in Karachi has languished in jail since May on a baseless charge of extortion leveled against him in retaliation for taking a stand against alleged land-grabbers who demolished homes of poor Christians there, family members said. Falsely accusing pastor Sohail Latif Sandhu of extortion, the alleged land-grabbers […]
Verdict in Pakistan Portends More Forced Marriages/Conversions of Christian Girls
Court returns 14-year-old Catholic girl to Muslim who allegedly abducted her.
August 14, 2020 By -
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A court decision in Pakistan to return custody of a 14-year-old Christian girl to the Muslim who allegedly kidnapped her and forced her to convert to Islam and marry him will make more Christian girls vulnerable to such trauma, sources said. Lala Robin Daniel, a rights activist based in […]
Expectations of Justice Low for Grieving Family of Street Sweeper in Pakistan
Christian sanitation workers face dangers from roads and coronavirus.
May 1, 2020 By -
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – When a Christian sanitation worker died after a police car struck him last week in Gujranwala, Pakistan, officers compensated his impoverished family with the equivalent of US$620. Rights advocates fear the Christian family likely will be forced to pardon the driver. The case typifies the discrimination and dangers that […]
Police Arrest Pastor on Fabricated Charges in Pakistan, Sources Say
Presbyterian minister upset officer by complaining of police wrong-doing.
April 27, 2020 By -
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – Presbyterian assistant pastor Sarfaraz Raja was preparing to deliver a Good Friday sermon in Pakistan on April 10 when his brother informed him by phone that police had intruded into his house and were harassing his mother and other family members. Upset that the pastor had complained of police […]
Muslim Landowner Tortures Young Christian Man to Death in Pakistan, Sources Say
Field worker attacked for ‘polluting’ tube-well, relatives say.
February 28, 2020 By -
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A young Christian man died today after a Muslim landowner on Tuesday (Feb. 25) chained and tortured him, accusing him of “polluting” his tube-well water by rinsing in it, sources said. Saleem Masih, 22, had finished unloading chaff in fields in Baguyana village, Karsur District, some 50 kilometers (31 […]
Court in Pakistan Validates Forced Conversion, Marriage of Christian Girl to Muslim
Underage victim continually kept from appearing at hearings.
February 12, 2020 By -
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A high court ruling in Pakistan validating the marriage and forced conversion to Islam of a 14-year-old Christian girl has heightened fears that it will encourage others to commit such crimes, sources said. The High Court in Sindh Province on Feb. 3 dismissed a petition to have the marriage […]
Forced into Payment Settlement, Christians Acquitted of 2015 Murders in Pakistan
Breadwinners maintaining their innocence spend nearly five years in jail.
January 31, 2020 By -
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – Maintaining their innocence, 39 Christians accused of killing two Muslims after 2015 church bombings in Pakistan reached an agreement to pay victim families in exchange for acquittal this week, sources said. An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday (Jan. 29), acquitted all 39 Christians and one Muslim accused in the […]