LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Acquittal after a false blasphemy charge has not kept a Christian widow in Pakistan from being driven from her job and village amid threats to her life. Musarrat Bibi was acquitted along with Muslim gardener Muhammad Sarmad on Dec. 8 after they were charged with desecrating pages of […]
Christian in Pakistan Loses Job, Home after False Charge
Widow continues to suffer in spite of acquittal.
January 12, 2024 By - Leave a Comment
Blasphemy Charge Devastates Christian Family in Pakistan
Bail granted, but father, wife and children apart and in hiding.
November 29, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A court in Pakistan this month granted bail to a Christian falsely charged with blasphemy, but he and his family have separated and gone into hiding amid threats to their lives, sources said. Haroon Shahzad, 45, was released from Sargodha District Jail on Nov. 15, said his attorney, Aneeqa Maria. […]
Religious Hatred Motivated Murder in Pakistan, Father Says
Gaza conflict said to have heightened killer’s anger.
November 24, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – The father of a 20-year-old Christian who was gunned down in Pakistan this month said the confessed killer was driven by a strong hatred for Christians and Jews. Farhan Ul Qamar was shot to death in his house in Talwandi Inayat Khan village, Pasrur tehsil of Sialkot District, Punjab Province, […]
Fire at Worship Building in Pakistan Set by Church Leader
Elder’s arrest shocks Christians.
November 20, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – Christians in Lahore, Pakistan were shocked to learn on Saturday (Nov. 18) that a church elder confessed to setting fire to their worship structure after initially blaming it on a Muslim extremist group, sources said. Police arrested church elder and treasurer Zubair Akhtar Khokhar after confronting him with video evidence […]
Christian Shot Dead in Pakistan for Unknown Reasons
Religious minorities again left without answers or justice.
November 19, 2023 By - 1 Comment
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A Muslim gunned down a 20-year-old Christian in Pakistan on Nov. 9, the latest case of a religious minority victimized for unknown reasons with police slow to act, sources said. In Talwandi Inayat Khan village, Pasrur tehsil of Sialkot District, Punjab Province, Farhan Ul Qamar was killed in his under-construction […]
Arson Suspected in Church Fire in Pakistan
Threatening letter left at front gate.
November 17, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
(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 […]
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 […]