Author: Editor

Image: Damage after fatal bomb attack on Karachi Catholics Continuing on from Part 1 (click here) where we talked about the circumstances of Mrs DZ’s initial rejection and her appeal   The family launched another appeal, which again was denied, even though they supplied further evidence, including a letter from their parish priest, Father John Joseph Paul, stating that Mrs DZ’s husband was an active street evangelist who had a stall selling Christian books. This was simply rejected as not relevant by appealing to the earlier appeal judges ridiculous assertion that because he gave his trade as an electrical engineer…

Image of Arnold Archie Dass recently killed in the same neighbourhood as the asylum seeker refused asylum. BPCA wishes to highlight yet another case where we consider the UKBA to have reached an unfair decision to reject an asylum claim of a Pakistani Christian family who have fled religious persecution and threats. The case is that of Mrs DZ (name not allowed to be published due to legal reasons) and her family (husband and teenage son) who come from Karachi. Her husband, an electrical engineer / teacher, also did evangelistic work by manning a stall selling Christian books and pamphlets.…

Rupee news has written a very interesting article which shows a letter of support from Akbar Navees a prominent Muslim. It illustrates the strength of passion that has been released as consequence of the Asia Bibi Case. Moreover, such strong words of support from leading Muslims highlights that we need to re-evaluate our perceptions of religious extremism in Pakistan. Now is a time to collaborate with our religious counterparts in Pakistan and to challenge this government and proceeding governments to focus on improving the lot for all its people. I have previously uploaded a letter of support from Leader of…

Asia Bibi the innocent mother of 5 who has been handed a death sentence for proclaiming her faith. This morning our Pakistan delegate Juliet Chowdhry spoke with both Sohail Johnson of Release International and Ashiq Masih (husband of Asia Bibi). The two of them seemed in good mood and are grateful for the support that the international community of all faiths is showing to Asia and her family. A former Session Court Judge (who’s name we will not publish) is taking up the case and is confident that he will be able to revert the decision. In the meanwhile the…

Asia Bibi comforted her children after the devastating court ruling. A Christian woman in Pakistan has been sentenced to death by hanging after she was convicted of allegedly insulting the Prophet Mohammed. Asia was also fined £728 – the equivalent of two-and-a half years’ salary for an unskilled worker. Asia, who is from Ittanwali in Punjab province, laboured in the fields for a Muslim landlord. She was arrested after a heated discussion about religion with her fellow farm workers. Hers was one of only three Christian families in the village. Asia Bibi, who is 45 years of age and has…

Gojra: Shagufta Kausar accused of blasphemy case seeks bail on 1st August in Additional Session Judge in Gojra. World Vision In Progress – WVIP filed the bail application for the Shagufta today in the court of the Additional Session Judge. Police sources told that due to unavoidable reasons, they couldn’t investigate the case accordingly so the official requested the court to hear the matter on August 1, 2013. Family of the accused couple requested WVIP to provide legal assistance to Shagufta and Shafaqat accused of a blasphemy case. WVIP management has assigned this duty to its legal team consist of…

Last night we heard of a despicable act of debauchery that has left Christians in Pakistan utterly shocked . It has been alleged that Shazia Masih an 11 year old Christian Girl from Lahore, Pakistan – was killed by a prominent Muslim after a period of sexual slavery. Wealthy lawyer Mohammed Naeem and his son have been accused of the rape and torture of the innocent girl who was working as a cleaner in his home. The young girl had not even reached physical maturity and in her underdeveloped stage must have been terrified by the ordeal which spanned a…

http://jazba.wordpress.com/2009/12/24/imam-bargah-under-attack-two-killed-3-injured-in-a-suicide-attack-on-imam-bargah-in-rawalpindi/ A young girl along with the attacker have been killed and a police constable seriously injured in a suicide attack outside the Imambargah (mosque of Shi’ite Muslims) named Kasre-e-Sakeena in Shahzad town area of Shakriyal alongside Expressway. Private TV Channel reported that the blast occurred when the Majlis was underway. Around 300 people were attending the religious gathering as the blast occurred.DIG Islamabad Bin Yameen while talking to media said that the incident occurred at about 10:18 pm when a suicide bomber tried to enter Imambargah. As the head constable Itifaq tried to stop the suicide bomber, he blew himself up. He told that suicide bomber failed to detonate himself completely. He said that…

It is with dismay and disdain that I hear of the persecution of our Shi’ite brothers in Pakistan – a small Muslim minority. The Shia community of Karachi has been ravaged by 3 separate bomb attacks, in a spate of sectarian violence covering just 3 days from the 26th – 28th December. The Ashoura festival and Muharram celebrations, for Shia Muslims have been tarnished by the recent terrorist activity. The intensity of the situation culminated in a Shia led riot that has decimated the local commercial precinct. Shamefully it would seem that the Pakistan Government has tried to delay or…

Many of you will be unaware that Pakistan once had a thriving Jewish Community. In particular the City of Karachi boasted a number of Synagogues and at least a 3000 strong fellowship. A former synagogue and graveyard still exist in Karachi for which attempts are being made to preserve them as part of the heritage of Pakistan. There remains one openly Jewish person named Fischel Benkhalid and around 900 Jews who present themselves on the National Database and Registration Authority’s census database.  However, they choose to indicate their faith as Muslim on their ID documents to thwart persecution. During the…