Pakistan: 2,000 Protest Government’s Demolition of Church Buildings

From Catholic World News

Two thousand Pakistani Christians, including Auxiliary Bishop Sebastian Shah of Lahore, priests, and Protestant leaders, protested the Punjabi government’s decision to confiscate Church land and demolish the charitable and educational institutions located on it.

The Christian leaders rejected a Punjabi government official’s explanation that the demolition was needed to combat criminal activity; Church officials also rejected a government offer of adjacent land.

“We shall continue protesting until the government returns all the land it took and pays for the losses,” said Father Morris Jalal. “We do not fear anyone and will fight for our rights.” 

Additional sources for this story
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• Bishops reject government land offer (UCA News)
• Pakistan: government demolishes Catholic buildings (CWN, 1/13)

Bhatti Murder: Focusing Again on Islamic Extremism

Court issues arrest warrants for two Pakistani nationals who fled to Dubai. Pakistan plans to demand the extradition of Ziaur Rehman and Malik Abid, both from Faisalabad. 
 

Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's only Christian minister, assassinated for opposing Islamic blasphemy law

From AsiaNews.it

By Jibran Khan

Pakistan’s anti-terrorism court has issued an international arrest warrant against two people in connection with the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti, the Catholic Minority Affairs Minister who was assassinated on 2 March. The order was signed by Special Judge Pervez Ali Shah against Ziaur Rehman and Malik Abid, both from Faisalabad, who fled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Now Pakistani authorities will be able to demand their extradition so that they can be put on trial.

Muslim Mob Destroys Church in Pakistan

From Catholic World News

In the seventh instance of anti-Christian violence in Pakistan this year, a Muslim mob destroyed a Protestant church in Jaytike after a young Christian man was accused of tearing pages of the Qur’an. The accusation came after a Muslim family discovered that the young man was romantically interested in their daughter.

Jaytike is located in the eastern province of Punjab, historically the center of Christianity in the nation.

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• Islamic Extremists Set Fire to Church in Pakistan (Vatican Radio)
• Muslim mob burns Church after blasphemy allegations (UCAN)