Tag: Taliban

Pakistan court grants bail to suspect in murder of government minister

July 19, 2014 Pakistan Blasphemy, Faisalabad, Paul Bhatti, Rawalpindi, Shahbaz Bhatti, Taliban

A man charged with killing Pakistan’s former Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian, in March 2011 has been released on bail of about $10,000 by a Pakistani court. Umar Abdullah was released July 11 after being arrested in September 2013. He has been accused of having ties with Al-Qaeda and . . . Read More

Indian priest kidnapped in Afghanistan

June 4, 2014 Afghanistan Bamiyan, Herat, Kabul, Kidnapping, Taliban

The school in Sohadat, about 30 kilmoetres from Herat city, Afghanistan, that the Jesuit Refugee Service had helped to build. Rev. Alexis Prem Kumar was visiting the school when he was abducted June 2.Jesuit Refugee Service An Indian Catholic priest has been kidnapped in Afghanistan, and no information about . . . Read More

Christmas excitement marred by insecurity for Pakistani Christians after deadly year of attacks

December 23, 2013 Pakistan All Saints Church, Blasphemy, Joseph Colony, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Taliban

Memorials for the victims of the bomb attacks at All Saints Church in Peshawar.Kamran Chaudhry for World Watch Monitor The decorations have been put up, carol services have begun and small celebrations are being planned, but the festive spirit is marred by anxiousness and insecurity among Pakistan’s small Christian . . . Read More

Rash of blasphemy accusations after Pakistan church bombings

November 26, 2013 Pakistan Al-Qaeda, All Saints Church, Blasphemy, Gujranwala, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Karachi, Lahore, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Pashtun, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Sunni Tehreek, Taliban, Youhanabad

The remains of a Munawar Masih’s belongings in Michael Town, Karachi, after they were taken from his home and set on fire.World Watch Monitor Two months ago, on September 22, two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside All Saints Church in Peshawar when congregants were leaving the church after . . . Read More

After the bombs

October 2, 2013 Pakistan All Saints Church, Blasphemy, Karachi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, Peshawar, Taliban

On Sept. 22, two bombs exploded at All Saints Anglican Church in Peshawar, the capital of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan. More than 80 people were killed, making it the deadliest attack ever on Pakistan’s Christians. In the days since, protests have been staged across the country. Condemnations . . . Read More

A renewed debate over blasphemy laws

October 2, 2013 Pakistan Blasphemy, Imran Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Ulema Council, Peshawar, PTI, Quetta, Shahbaz Bhatti, Taliban

Memorials for the victims of the bomb attacks at All Saints Church in Peshawar.Kamran Chaudhry for World Watch Monitor The Sept. 22 suicide bombings of a church in Pakistan have re-ignited political debate on the country’s controversial blasphemy laws. Only three days before the incident, the Council for Islamic . . . Read More

Anger turns into a riot

October 2, 2013 Pakistan All Saints Church, Karachi, Pentecostals, Peshawar, Taliban

An anti-Taliban protest outside the Karachi Press Club following the church bombing in Peshawar.Jahanzaib Khan via Twitter Last week, in the wake of the Peshawar church bombs, minority Pakistani Christians staged protests and demonstrations across the country, angry at the lack of protection given to them by their government. . . . Read More

Pakistan’s Christian leaders demand security after bombings

September 23, 2013 Pakistan All Saints Church, Faisalabad, Gojra, Gujrat, Islamabad, Karachi, Kasur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Multan, Narowal, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Muslim League, Pakistan Ulema Council, Peshawar, PTI, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Sahiwal, Sialkot, Taliban, Vehari

Protesters took to the streets in cities across Pakistan following the church bombings.World Watch Monitor Anguish and anger has erupted across Pakistan since Sunday after two suicide bombers killed dozens of people as they were leaving church services. The bomb attacks took place at 12:15 p.m. on Sept. 22 . . . Read More

Christians watchful as Sharif returns to power

June 6, 2013 Pakistan Blasphemy, Elections, Gojra, Jamaat-e-Islami, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Muslim League, PTI, Taliban

Pakistan’s Christians appear to have thrown some of their political support to Nawaz Sharif in the May 11 national election, even as they have reason to be wary of his return to power. Sharif’s party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, or PMLN, won 124 of the 272 directly elected seats in the . . . Read More

Bhatti murder case in Pakistan increasingly murky

May 25, 2012 Pakistan Asia Bibi, Minorities, Pakistan, Paul Bhatti, Punjab, Rawalpindi, Salmaan Taseer, Shahbaz Bhatti, Taliban

The investigation into the murder of Pakistan’s only cabinet-level Christian, Shahbaz Bhatti, has become mired amid suspicions of a possible cover-up, sources said. Lax investigations, a series of freed suspects and lack of coordination across law enforcement organizations have stalled the case following the March 2, 2011 slaying of the . . . Read More

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