ASSIST News Service (ANS)
www.assistnews.net
Monday, September 21, 2009
Pakistani Christian janitors protest over non-payment of salaries
Three sanitary workers suspended for demanding their pay
By Dan Wooding and Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special to ASSIST News Service
BAHAWALPUR, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- As another sign of bias against minorities in Pakistan, the Christian janitorial workers of Bahawalpur have been denied salaries during the Muslim Eid (Muslim religious festival) whereas the authority ensured disbursement of salaries to the Muslim staff well ahead of Eid.
Angry janitors on Monday, September 21, 2009 staged a protest rally starting from Khairpur crossing and terminating in Alipur. The protesters, wearing black bands around their arms, shouted slogans against Tehsil Municipal authorities and demanded that they be given their salaries. They said they would not work until the salaries were disbursed to them.
ANS has learned that the Tehsil Municipal Officer has suspended three workers for raising their voices over non-payment of salaries.
Christian Advocate Lazar Nayeer from Bahawalpur, who is also member of Tehsil (administrative division) Council, said that in a recent recruitment 173 Muslim sanitary workers were employed on daily wages. The remaining 50 temporary jobs were allocated between Christians and Muslims, with approx 20 of those going to Christians.
Supervision of the sanitary work is assigned to Muslims sanitary workers who are actually appointed to do janitorial work, he pointed out.
He alleged that the authority has recruited Muslims as “ghost” sanitary workers. Pointing to the stigma attached to the sanitary work in Pakistan, Nayeer said Muslims do not do sanitary work after getting recruited as sanitary workers.
“They are often given other jobs like gardening, driving etc.,” he alleged.
Nayeer went on to say that those who actually do sanitary work in Bahawalpur are Christians and Hindus. The Christian sanitary workers, he said, have often complained of authority’s discriminatory attitude towards them but their grievances have not been addressed by the authority.
He stated that instead of giving permanent jobs to those Christian sanitary workers who are working on daily wages the authority allegedly recruits Muslims in permanent positions. He also stated that the Christian sanitary workers have long been demanding that the Muslim sanitary workers be sacked and their jobs should be given to the people who want to work.
Asked to elaborate on the general problems facing sanitary workers in Pakistan, he said they often complain that they are forced to work for long hours. “They are not given paid annual holidays,” he added.
He said that most of the Christian sanitary workers are not given their full salaries, alleging that part of their salaries is kept by those who disburse salaries.
He also said that the municipal authority often delay Christian sanitary workers’ salaries. He said those working on daily wages and ad hoc basis mostly get salaries after passage of several months.
Professor Anjum James Paul said that sanitary workers, the lowest of the low, in Pakistan are expected to work long hours in general but the Muslim religious festivals mean more work for them.
“They work hard without cleaning masks and other sanitation equipment and yet do not get paid on time,” Professor Anjum James Paul told ANS.
The sanitary workers, he said have long been demanding equipment like masks but the authority has not heeded to their claims.
The absence of masks and other equipment in the past has caused deaths of cleaners, said the human rights activist.
“They live in slums in grinding poverty and face acute discrimination from majority Muslims,” said Professor Anjum.
Deprived of basic civic and health amenities they become easy victim of religious intolerance, exploitation and oppression, he maintained
Mr. Paul said that women Christian janitors have long been demanding that they should not be expected to work in public places as it leaves them vulnerable to sexual harassment but the authority has not taken any notice to their grave concern.
He said Muslim sanitary workers, in connivance with the municipal authority’s officers, do not work because they want to perpetuate this impression that only the Christians do janitorial work.
He added: “If these Muslim sanitary workers begin doing sanitary work instead of taking salaries for the work they never do then it will not only improve sanitation conditions in the country but it would also lessen the burden on working Christian janitors. Perhaps in this way Christians would no longer be stigmatized because of their menial profession.”
He criticized government and private sector departments for placing advertisements in newspapers entitled: “Christian janitors required.”
“If the job is only being advertised for Christians then why do they recruit Muslims and if Muslims are recruited then why they are not directed to do janitorial work?” Mr. Paul asked.
The professor alleged that a Muslim prayer leader of Sumandri, a small town in the district of Faisalabad, has been recruited as a sanitary worker but does not do sanitary work.
“This is an egregious violation of human rights,” said Paul, referring to alleged content of ads for janitors.
He termed it as a conspiracy to fuel impression that Christians are only worthy of janitorial work.
“Pakistani Christians,” he said, “have proven their talent in armed forces, health, education, and wherever they were allowed to grow.”
Monday, September 21, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Pakistani Christians suspect police murdered blasphemy-accused young man
ASSIST News Service (ANS)
www.assistnews.net
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Pakistani Christians suspect police murdered blasphemy-accused young man
By Dan Wooding and Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special to ASSIST News Service
SIALKOT, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Several Pakistani Christians, including clergymen, social workers and human rights activists, have alleged that 22-year-old Robert Masih, also known as Robert Danish, nicknamed "Fanish" or "Falish" by friends, a young Christian man who died in police custody on Tuesday, September 15, was murdered.
According to police, the deceased committed suicide in the police cell, whereas human rights activists have termed Christian man's death as an "extrajudicial killing."
The police said that the man accused of blasphemy had hung himself with the cord he pulled out from his Shalwar (clothing).
"They (the police) insisted that Robert committed suicide. His head was down and there was a noose around his neck while the other end of the cord was attached to the iron bar of the cell's gate. He was about 5 inches above from the ground," Pastor Maskeen Nisari, who visited the Sialkot District Jail, told ANS
Professor Anjum James Paul, Director of Social Harmony and Development of Women (SHADOW), who visited the native village of Robert on Friday, September, 18 along with Piyara Joseph and Zafar Iqbal Daniel, told ANS that the church that was attacked on September 12 had not yet been re-opened.
"I haven't been able to go to Bible school which was being run by the church," James quoted Siama Salamat, a Christian female student as saying.
The church in Jathikay has not been re-opened since September 12 attack
Mr. Paul told ANS that the church was locked and the police stood guard outside the church. He disclosed that Muslim women and children congregated in the school where Hina, the Muslim girl, who had a fling with Robert, studied.
In what professor termed as a detrimental trend for minorities, he said the women and children pelted stones at Christians' houses, forcing the already scared Christians to shut themselves in their houses.
Asif Masih, the owner of "Bright Future Middle School," told Professor Anjum that he had not re-opened his school, fearing further trouble from Muslims.
Talking to Professor Anjum James Paul, he alleged that the police guards murdered Robert. He said Robert's photos reveal "barbarism by the police."
He went on to say, "There can be no improvement in society when the guardians of law become avengers."
He recalled that some time back police allegedly had killed a Muslim blasphemy-accused who he said had converted to Christianity. He demanded that all those involved in the alleged murder of Robert should be handed capital punishment.
"These people would continue to bring bad name to country if they were not meted out punishments according to law," he said.
He said one could not imagine national unity until the culture of tolerance, peace and harmony took its roots in Pakistan. He urged the Ministry of Education of Pakistan to eliminate pejorative, hateful, biased and discriminatory content from Pakistani text books.
"The textbooks instead should promote love, tolerance and human values," he went on to say, adding that incidents of extreme injustice and intolerance against the minorities were "the outcome of biased and prejudiced content in the text books against minorities."
Lieutenant Commander (retd) Frank Joseph and director of Bethania Christian Hospital in Sialkot told ANS that Robert was "murdered" while he was held in police custody.
"Robert was wearing a shirt and trousers when he was arrested but he was wearing Shalwar Qameez (Pakistani dress) when he was found dead in his cell. This makes me suspect that he was murdered," he said.
Catholic Priest, Fr. Nathanial Bhatti of the Order of Franciscans, said the photos of the deceased that he viewed revealed marks of injures that made him suspect that Robert was murdered. He urged Pakistani Christians to remain peaceful.
Pastor Ishaq Masih of of Presbyterian Church Sialkot termed the death of Robert as a "tragic incident."
He said the death of Robert reveals the low status minorities have got in Pakistan.
"One can get true victory after going through trial and tribulations," he said. "The Christians should stay firm in faith because Jesus had said you would be persecuted in my name."
The minister of religion said the Christian community of Sialkot rallied after Christians were burnt alive in Gojra and demanded a repeal of Pakistan's blasphemy laws.
"The killing of Robert reflects lawlessness in Pakistan," he alleged. "The guardians of law have killed Robert."
Pastor Maskeen Nisari of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Sialkot expressed concern on the soaring incidents of Christian persecution in Pakistan. He emphasized the need for repeal of Pakistan blasphemy laws. He said "no Christian would commit sacrilege of Quran or any other religious book."
Humyun A. Gill, a former Councilor of Sialkot, alleged that Robert was murdered hence justice should be served to the Christians.
Humyun Khalid, district Councilor of Sialkot said the killing of Robert was an "inhuman" act.
Piyari Joseph, a social worker of Sialkot said that rising persecution of Christians in Pakistan was "eroding values of harmony and tolerance." The Christians had to undergo major persecution four times in last four months, he pointed out.
Fr. Francis Nadeem, The Chairman of the National Council for Inter-faith Dialogue, urged Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, to take 'Suo Motto' action regarding Robert's death in police custody. He hailed the Governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer's demand for repeal of Pakistan blasphemy laws. He said it was about time that the "infamous laws of the country were abolished."
Fr. Nasir Gulfam, also with the Franciscans, said that Robert's death was a result of alleged torture. He said various parts of Robert's body had injury marks including nails, arms, thighs, legs, palm and forehead. He demanded the government of Pakistan to make public the finding of the judicial inquiry into the death of the Christian man.
Referring to the police First Information Report no. 721, he said no action has been taken against the people who desecrated Bible and attacked a church in Jathikay on September 12.
"The culprits responsible for attacking the church haven't been arrested," he regretted.
He said the miscreants who misused the blasphemy laws should be meted out capital punishment
Rana Asad Mehboob, a Minority Member of Provincial assembly of Pakistan (of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz), said that the incident of death of Robert should not have taken place. He told ANS that the Chief Minister Punjab, Mian Nawaz Sharif, had assured that the Christians would get justice.
Dr. Nelson Azeem, minority member of National Assembly of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz said that the Chief Minister said he would side with people who have been wronged.
Kamran Michael, the Provincial Minister for Minorities and Human Rights said that the Christians were being targeted in the country. He told ANS that a delegation of Christians, including Dr. Tariq of Bethania Christian Hospital, Sialkot, were meeting the Chief Minister Punjab after Eid, the Muslim festival that marks end of fasting month of Ramadan. He urged minority leaders to "rise above party politics and forge unity to raise minority issues."
www.assistnews.net
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Pakistani Christians suspect police murdered blasphemy-accused young man
By Dan Wooding and Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special to ASSIST News Service
SIALKOT, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Several Pakistani Christians, including clergymen, social workers and human rights activists, have alleged that 22-year-old Robert Masih, also known as Robert Danish, nicknamed "Fanish" or "Falish" by friends, a young Christian man who died in police custody on Tuesday, September 15, was murdered.
According to police, the deceased committed suicide in the police cell, whereas human rights activists have termed Christian man's death as an "extrajudicial killing."
The police said that the man accused of blasphemy had hung himself with the cord he pulled out from his Shalwar (clothing).
"They (the police) insisted that Robert committed suicide. His head was down and there was a noose around his neck while the other end of the cord was attached to the iron bar of the cell's gate. He was about 5 inches above from the ground," Pastor Maskeen Nisari, who visited the Sialkot District Jail, told ANS
Professor Anjum James Paul, Director of Social Harmony and Development of Women (SHADOW), who visited the native village of Robert on Friday, September, 18 along with Piyara Joseph and Zafar Iqbal Daniel, told ANS that the church that was attacked on September 12 had not yet been re-opened.
"I haven't been able to go to Bible school which was being run by the church," James quoted Siama Salamat, a Christian female student as saying.
The church in Jathikay has not been re-opened since September 12 attack
Mr. Paul told ANS that the church was locked and the police stood guard outside the church. He disclosed that Muslim women and children congregated in the school where Hina, the Muslim girl, who had a fling with Robert, studied.
In what professor termed as a detrimental trend for minorities, he said the women and children pelted stones at Christians' houses, forcing the already scared Christians to shut themselves in their houses.
Asif Masih, the owner of "Bright Future Middle School," told Professor Anjum that he had not re-opened his school, fearing further trouble from Muslims.
Talking to Professor Anjum James Paul, he alleged that the police guards murdered Robert. He said Robert's photos reveal "barbarism by the police."
He went on to say, "There can be no improvement in society when the guardians of law become avengers."
He recalled that some time back police allegedly had killed a Muslim blasphemy-accused who he said had converted to Christianity. He demanded that all those involved in the alleged murder of Robert should be handed capital punishment.
"These people would continue to bring bad name to country if they were not meted out punishments according to law," he said.
He said one could not imagine national unity until the culture of tolerance, peace and harmony took its roots in Pakistan. He urged the Ministry of Education of Pakistan to eliminate pejorative, hateful, biased and discriminatory content from Pakistani text books.
"The textbooks instead should promote love, tolerance and human values," he went on to say, adding that incidents of extreme injustice and intolerance against the minorities were "the outcome of biased and prejudiced content in the text books against minorities."
Lieutenant Commander (retd) Frank Joseph and director of Bethania Christian Hospital in Sialkot told ANS that Robert was "murdered" while he was held in police custody.
"Robert was wearing a shirt and trousers when he was arrested but he was wearing Shalwar Qameez (Pakistani dress) when he was found dead in his cell. This makes me suspect that he was murdered," he said.
Catholic Priest, Fr. Nathanial Bhatti of the Order of Franciscans, said the photos of the deceased that he viewed revealed marks of injures that made him suspect that Robert was murdered. He urged Pakistani Christians to remain peaceful.
Pastor Ishaq Masih of of Presbyterian Church Sialkot termed the death of Robert as a "tragic incident."
He said the death of Robert reveals the low status minorities have got in Pakistan.
"One can get true victory after going through trial and tribulations," he said. "The Christians should stay firm in faith because Jesus had said you would be persecuted in my name."
The minister of religion said the Christian community of Sialkot rallied after Christians were burnt alive in Gojra and demanded a repeal of Pakistan's blasphemy laws.
"The killing of Robert reflects lawlessness in Pakistan," he alleged. "The guardians of law have killed Robert."
Pastor Maskeen Nisari of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Sialkot expressed concern on the soaring incidents of Christian persecution in Pakistan. He emphasized the need for repeal of Pakistan blasphemy laws. He said "no Christian would commit sacrilege of Quran or any other religious book."
Humyun A. Gill, a former Councilor of Sialkot, alleged that Robert was murdered hence justice should be served to the Christians.
Humyun Khalid, district Councilor of Sialkot said the killing of Robert was an "inhuman" act.
Piyari Joseph, a social worker of Sialkot said that rising persecution of Christians in Pakistan was "eroding values of harmony and tolerance." The Christians had to undergo major persecution four times in last four months, he pointed out.
Fr. Francis Nadeem, The Chairman of the National Council for Inter-faith Dialogue, urged Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, to take 'Suo Motto' action regarding Robert's death in police custody. He hailed the Governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer's demand for repeal of Pakistan blasphemy laws. He said it was about time that the "infamous laws of the country were abolished."
Fr. Nasir Gulfam, also with the Franciscans, said that Robert's death was a result of alleged torture. He said various parts of Robert's body had injury marks including nails, arms, thighs, legs, palm and forehead. He demanded the government of Pakistan to make public the finding of the judicial inquiry into the death of the Christian man.
Referring to the police First Information Report no. 721, he said no action has been taken against the people who desecrated Bible and attacked a church in Jathikay on September 12.
"The culprits responsible for attacking the church haven't been arrested," he regretted.
He said the miscreants who misused the blasphemy laws should be meted out capital punishment
Rana Asad Mehboob, a Minority Member of Provincial assembly of Pakistan (of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz), said that the incident of death of Robert should not have taken place. He told ANS that the Chief Minister Punjab, Mian Nawaz Sharif, had assured that the Christians would get justice.
Dr. Nelson Azeem, minority member of National Assembly of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz said that the Chief Minister said he would side with people who have been wronged.
Kamran Michael, the Provincial Minister for Minorities and Human Rights said that the Christians were being targeted in the country. He told ANS that a delegation of Christians, including Dr. Tariq of Bethania Christian Hospital, Sialkot, were meeting the Chief Minister Punjab after Eid, the Muslim festival that marks end of fasting month of Ramadan. He urged minority leaders to "rise above party politics and forge unity to raise minority issues."
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Pakistani man accused of blasphemy dies in police custody
ASSIST News Service (ANS)
www.assistnews.net
September 15, 2009
Pakistani man accused of blasphemy dies in police custody
By Dan Wooding and Sheraz Khurram
SIALKOT, PAKISTAN(ANS) -- Robert, a Christian man who was arrested by the Pakistan police after blasphemy accusations were leveled against him on Friday, September 11. 2009, was found dead in police cell on Tuesday, September 15, ANS has learned.
The local police said the man accused of blasphemy had hung himself with the cord he pulled out from his Shalwar (trousers), though this being disputed by human rights workers in Pakistan.
The trouble began when angry Muslim residents of a village in the Punjab province of Pakistan had set to fire a church building on that Friday after Robert was accused of desecrating the Muslim holy book, the Quran.
The Church of Pakistan building in Jataykay village near Sambrial, received partial damage as a result of the fire.
Blasphemy accusations were leveled against Robert after his fling with the Muslim girl became known. Some fifty Christian families live in the Jataykay village.
According to police, the deceased had committed suicide in the police cell where he was being held, whereas human rights activists have termed Christian man’s death as “extra-judicial killing.”
After hearing the news of death of Robert due to alleged police torture, angry Christians protested against the death Robert in police custody. They burnt tires on the roads that brought the traffic to a standstill.
The protest rally started from the morgue and terminated at the Allama Iqbal crossing in Sialkot. The participants of the rally shouted slogans against police and jail authorities and demanded repeal of blasphemy laws.
Minority leaders including Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti, the Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, Kamran Michael, Provincial Minister for Minorities and human rights and Khalil Tahir Sandhu, Member of the Punjab Provincial Assembly addressed the outraged Christians.
It is learnt that the post mortem of Robert’s body has been performed but ANS could not obtain the report at the time of writing this report.
The angry Christians refused to bury Robert, insisting that they would only bury him after the officials involved in a alleged extra-judicial killing are brought to justice.
ANS has learnt that Samuel Pervez, the Bishop of the Church of Pakistan Sialkot Diocese, Pastor Manzoor Zia of Hunter Memorial Church, Sialkot, Pastor Shakil and Pastor Maskeen Nisari of Holy Trinity Church of Sialkot, visited District jail Sialkot and found that Robert’s neck had a noose around it whose other end was attached to the iron bars of the cell’s gate.
“They (the police) insisted that Robert committed suicide. His head was down and there was a noose around his neck while the other end of the cord was attached to the iron bar of the cell’s gate. He was about 5 inches above from the ground,” Pastor Maskeen Insari told ANS.
The pastor condemned Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws and demanded of the government to repeal them.
Zafar Iqbal, a former district councilor of Sialkot, said that he suspected that the police might have poisoned his food.
Reacting to death of Robert in mysterious circumstances, Fr. Aftab James Paul vehemently condemned the killing in police custody. “We do not think it is true that Robert committed suicide. He has been killed extra-judicially,” he said.
It was police’s responsibility to “ensure his protection during its custody,” he stated.
Criticizing alleged negligence of the police he said it was common for the police to cover-up its extra-judicial killings by giving disinformation that the deceased had a heart attack or he committed suicide.
He claimed that in many cases it has been found that the death was a result of extra-judicial killings and not the oft-cited two causes of death given by the police following such a tragic incident.
Commenting on the soaring abuse of Pakistan blasphemy laws he pointed out that the laws are not only detrimental to the religious minorities but they are being used to victimize Muslims as well.
Fr. Aftab said some 960 people have been accused of blasphemy since 1986, the year that saw introduction of the disputed laws.
Out of 960 people, he maintained, some 477 are Muslims, 340 Ahmadis, 118 Christians, 14 Hindus and 10 other people whose religious identities could not be ascertained have been accused of blasphemy laws.
He said that 32 people have been killed extra-judicially. Those killed extra-judicially, he said, also included doctors and intellectuals.
He said that the blasphemy laws were playing havoc with the lives and properties of people of all religions. He described the blasphemy laws as a best means to take revenge or settle personal scores. He called for repeal of all sections of Pakistan blasphemy laws. “The repeal of the laws is not enough. There is a need to change the mindsets of people. The scrapping of the laws without changing mindsets of people would be a cosmetic measure,” he remarked.
He underscored the need for sensitizing Muslims that the law is also doing them as much harm as it is doing to the people of other faiths in Pakistan. He urged the national and print media to play its role to rouse consciousness among masses on this issue.
Asked if Pakistan national and print media gives coverage to incidents of injustice and discrimination with minorities, the priest said that news coverage of minorities’ issues on electronic media has improved. The electronic media channels’ crew maintained their presence on ground following violence in village Korian and Gojra of the province Punjab where miscreants had set ablaze Christians’ houses after rumors that Christians had committed blasphemyPeople in decision making positions in the electronic media should ensure that they sensitize the people of Pakistan on misuse of blasphemy laws through their talk shows, he said.
Commenting on the death of Robert during police custody Dr. Nelson Azeem, Member National Assembly (Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz) also termed it as an “extra-judicial killing.” He alleged that the jail officials had committed criminal offence. “We do not believe Robert committed suicide. He has been murdered by jail authorities,” Azeem told ANS.
Mr. Azeem said an inquiry would be made into the incident and the culprits would be handed out sentence in light of the inquiry report. He said the blasphemy laws should be summarily repealed. The laws, he said, were a potential weapon to damage national security, to widen differences and to create civil war in the country.
He said the law was fast eroding sympathies among people of different faiths. He said the Standing Committee for Minorities Affairs had formed a committee which is reviewing the laws. The recommendations of the committee, he said, would be made public. We are lobbying to ensure repeal of the laws.
“We would raise the issue of repeal of blasphemy laws at all forums,” he said,
The Chairman of Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA) and Director of Social Harmony and Development of women, Professor Anjum James Paul, disputed the police’s version that the Christian man had committed suicide.
The professor said that the Muslim woman who accused Robert of desecrating the Quran, gave a self-contradictory version to the police.
“She accused the deceased of desecrating Quran and throwing it in a drain as well as accused him of fleeing with pages of Quran,” said professor Anjum pointing to the dichotomy of the statement that led to Robert’s detention.
ANS has learnt that Punjab Chief Minister, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, has ordered judicial inquiry into the death of Robert.
ANS understands that instances abound when Christians accused of blasphemy have been tortured and in some cases killed by the police. It is extremely reprehensible when the guardians of the law themselves break the law. Standards of policing in the sub-continent are different from those of the West. Often the third degree is applied for obtaining evidence and confessions.
www.assistnews.net
September 15, 2009
Pakistani man accused of blasphemy dies in police custody
By Dan Wooding and Sheraz Khurram
SIALKOT, PAKISTAN(ANS) -- Robert, a Christian man who was arrested by the Pakistan police after blasphemy accusations were leveled against him on Friday, September 11. 2009, was found dead in police cell on Tuesday, September 15, ANS has learned.
The local police said the man accused of blasphemy had hung himself with the cord he pulled out from his Shalwar (trousers), though this being disputed by human rights workers in Pakistan.
The trouble began when angry Muslim residents of a village in the Punjab province of Pakistan had set to fire a church building on that Friday after Robert was accused of desecrating the Muslim holy book, the Quran.
The Church of Pakistan building in Jataykay village near Sambrial, received partial damage as a result of the fire.
Blasphemy accusations were leveled against Robert after his fling with the Muslim girl became known. Some fifty Christian families live in the Jataykay village.
According to police, the deceased had committed suicide in the police cell where he was being held, whereas human rights activists have termed Christian man’s death as “extra-judicial killing.”
After hearing the news of death of Robert due to alleged police torture, angry Christians protested against the death Robert in police custody. They burnt tires on the roads that brought the traffic to a standstill.
The protest rally started from the morgue and terminated at the Allama Iqbal crossing in Sialkot. The participants of the rally shouted slogans against police and jail authorities and demanded repeal of blasphemy laws.
Minority leaders including Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti, the Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, Kamran Michael, Provincial Minister for Minorities and human rights and Khalil Tahir Sandhu, Member of the Punjab Provincial Assembly addressed the outraged Christians.
It is learnt that the post mortem of Robert’s body has been performed but ANS could not obtain the report at the time of writing this report.
The angry Christians refused to bury Robert, insisting that they would only bury him after the officials involved in a alleged extra-judicial killing are brought to justice.
ANS has learnt that Samuel Pervez, the Bishop of the Church of Pakistan Sialkot Diocese, Pastor Manzoor Zia of Hunter Memorial Church, Sialkot, Pastor Shakil and Pastor Maskeen Nisari of Holy Trinity Church of Sialkot, visited District jail Sialkot and found that Robert’s neck had a noose around it whose other end was attached to the iron bars of the cell’s gate.
“They (the police) insisted that Robert committed suicide. His head was down and there was a noose around his neck while the other end of the cord was attached to the iron bar of the cell’s gate. He was about 5 inches above from the ground,” Pastor Maskeen Insari told ANS.
The pastor condemned Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws and demanded of the government to repeal them.
Zafar Iqbal, a former district councilor of Sialkot, said that he suspected that the police might have poisoned his food.
Reacting to death of Robert in mysterious circumstances, Fr. Aftab James Paul vehemently condemned the killing in police custody. “We do not think it is true that Robert committed suicide. He has been killed extra-judicially,” he said.
It was police’s responsibility to “ensure his protection during its custody,” he stated.
Criticizing alleged negligence of the police he said it was common for the police to cover-up its extra-judicial killings by giving disinformation that the deceased had a heart attack or he committed suicide.
He claimed that in many cases it has been found that the death was a result of extra-judicial killings and not the oft-cited two causes of death given by the police following such a tragic incident.
Commenting on the soaring abuse of Pakistan blasphemy laws he pointed out that the laws are not only detrimental to the religious minorities but they are being used to victimize Muslims as well.
Fr. Aftab said some 960 people have been accused of blasphemy since 1986, the year that saw introduction of the disputed laws.
Out of 960 people, he maintained, some 477 are Muslims, 340 Ahmadis, 118 Christians, 14 Hindus and 10 other people whose religious identities could not be ascertained have been accused of blasphemy laws.
He said that 32 people have been killed extra-judicially. Those killed extra-judicially, he said, also included doctors and intellectuals.
He said that the blasphemy laws were playing havoc with the lives and properties of people of all religions. He described the blasphemy laws as a best means to take revenge or settle personal scores. He called for repeal of all sections of Pakistan blasphemy laws. “The repeal of the laws is not enough. There is a need to change the mindsets of people. The scrapping of the laws without changing mindsets of people would be a cosmetic measure,” he remarked.
He underscored the need for sensitizing Muslims that the law is also doing them as much harm as it is doing to the people of other faiths in Pakistan. He urged the national and print media to play its role to rouse consciousness among masses on this issue.
Asked if Pakistan national and print media gives coverage to incidents of injustice and discrimination with minorities, the priest said that news coverage of minorities’ issues on electronic media has improved. The electronic media channels’ crew maintained their presence on ground following violence in village Korian and Gojra of the province Punjab where miscreants had set ablaze Christians’ houses after rumors that Christians had committed blasphemyPeople in decision making positions in the electronic media should ensure that they sensitize the people of Pakistan on misuse of blasphemy laws through their talk shows, he said.
Commenting on the death of Robert during police custody Dr. Nelson Azeem, Member National Assembly (Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz) also termed it as an “extra-judicial killing.” He alleged that the jail officials had committed criminal offence. “We do not believe Robert committed suicide. He has been murdered by jail authorities,” Azeem told ANS.
Mr. Azeem said an inquiry would be made into the incident and the culprits would be handed out sentence in light of the inquiry report. He said the blasphemy laws should be summarily repealed. The laws, he said, were a potential weapon to damage national security, to widen differences and to create civil war in the country.
He said the law was fast eroding sympathies among people of different faiths. He said the Standing Committee for Minorities Affairs had formed a committee which is reviewing the laws. The recommendations of the committee, he said, would be made public. We are lobbying to ensure repeal of the laws.
“We would raise the issue of repeal of blasphemy laws at all forums,” he said,
The Chairman of Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA) and Director of Social Harmony and Development of women, Professor Anjum James Paul, disputed the police’s version that the Christian man had committed suicide.
The professor said that the Muslim woman who accused Robert of desecrating the Quran, gave a self-contradictory version to the police.
“She accused the deceased of desecrating Quran and throwing it in a drain as well as accused him of fleeing with pages of Quran,” said professor Anjum pointing to the dichotomy of the statement that led to Robert’s detention.
ANS has learnt that Punjab Chief Minister, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, has ordered judicial inquiry into the death of Robert.
ANS understands that instances abound when Christians accused of blasphemy have been tortured and in some cases killed by the police. It is extremely reprehensible when the guardians of the law themselves break the law. Standards of policing in the sub-continent are different from those of the West. Often the third degree is applied for obtaining evidence and confessions.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Pakistan Church set on fire over blasphemy accusation
ASSIST News Service (ANS)
www.assistnews.net
September 12, 2009
Pakistan Church set on fire over blasphemy accusation
SIALKOT, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Angry Muslim residents of a village in the Punjab province of Pakistan set to fire a Church building on Friday, September 11, 2009, after a Christian boy was accused of desecrating the Muslim holy book, the Quran.
The Church of Pakistan building in Jataykay village near Sambrial, received partial damage as a result of the fire.
ANS has discovered that the problem arose after Robert, the Christian boy accused of blasphemy, allegedly had a love affair with a Muslim girl in the village.
Blasphemy accusations were allegedly slapped on Robert after his fling with the Muslim girl became known. Some fifty Christian families live in the Jataykay village.
Police have arrested the Christian boy but have stopped short from registering blasphemy case against him at the time of writing this report.
Heavy contingents of police arrived in the village on Friday to avert any possible further trouble.
Pir Sabir Shah, a local hardliner Muslim, who aggravated the situation by fomenting religious hatred, has been arrested.
Pakistani Muslim clerics have a reputation of making capital of blasphemy-related issues.
Dr. Nelson Azeem, a Christian member of National Assembly, chaired a National Assembly Standing Committee on Minorities Affair's meeting on Saturday, September 12, to discuss the situation.
ANS has learnt that the Deputy Inspector General of Police, the District Police Officer and the District Coordination Officer, would be dispatched notices from the National Assembly Secretariat Islamabad on Monday with instructions to probe the recent attack on the church.
"A certain militant group seems to be behind the latest attack on a church. The same group appears to be involved in the recent incidents of violence against Christians in Bhamniwala, Korian and Gojra," the Chairman of Pakistan Minorities Teachers Association (PMTA), Professor Anjum James Paul, quoted Dr. Nelson Azeem as saying.
Condemning the attack on the Church, Mr. Anjum called upon Pakistan government to take strict action against the culprits.
He expressed serious concerns on widespread misuse of blasphemy laws, saying that miscreants and extremists are vitiating inter-religious relations between Christians and Muslims.
He termed attacks on Christians and their places of worship as a "disappointment of miscreant and extremist elements."
www.assistnews.net
September 12, 2009
Pakistan Church set on fire over blasphemy accusation
SIALKOT, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Angry Muslim residents of a village in the Punjab province of Pakistan set to fire a Church building on Friday, September 11, 2009, after a Christian boy was accused of desecrating the Muslim holy book, the Quran.
The Church of Pakistan building in Jataykay village near Sambrial, received partial damage as a result of the fire.
ANS has discovered that the problem arose after Robert, the Christian boy accused of blasphemy, allegedly had a love affair with a Muslim girl in the village.
Blasphemy accusations were allegedly slapped on Robert after his fling with the Muslim girl became known. Some fifty Christian families live in the Jataykay village.
Police have arrested the Christian boy but have stopped short from registering blasphemy case against him at the time of writing this report.
Heavy contingents of police arrived in the village on Friday to avert any possible further trouble.
Pir Sabir Shah, a local hardliner Muslim, who aggravated the situation by fomenting religious hatred, has been arrested.
Pakistani Muslim clerics have a reputation of making capital of blasphemy-related issues.
Dr. Nelson Azeem, a Christian member of National Assembly, chaired a National Assembly Standing Committee on Minorities Affair's meeting on Saturday, September 12, to discuss the situation.
ANS has learnt that the Deputy Inspector General of Police, the District Police Officer and the District Coordination Officer, would be dispatched notices from the National Assembly Secretariat Islamabad on Monday with instructions to probe the recent attack on the church.
"A certain militant group seems to be behind the latest attack on a church. The same group appears to be involved in the recent incidents of violence against Christians in Bhamniwala, Korian and Gojra," the Chairman of Pakistan Minorities Teachers Association (PMTA), Professor Anjum James Paul, quoted Dr. Nelson Azeem as saying.
Condemning the attack on the Church, Mr. Anjum called upon Pakistan government to take strict action against the culprits.
He expressed serious concerns on widespread misuse of blasphemy laws, saying that miscreants and extremists are vitiating inter-religious relations between Christians and Muslims.
He termed attacks on Christians and their places of worship as a "disappointment of miscreant and extremist elements."
Thursday, September 10, 2009
"Minorities Quota in Punjab" published in the Daily Frontier Post
The daily Frontier Post
September 10, 2009
http://www.thefrontierpost.com
Minorities Quota in Punjab
Prof. Anjum James Paul Faisalabad
The Federal Government has already issued five per cent quota for minorities in the civil services of Pakistan but government of Punjab is hesitating to issue the notification in this regard. Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA) has grave concerns on this issue as there have already been recruitments in different departments ignoring 5% quota for the religious minorities. Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Quaid of Pakistan Muslim League (N) announced 5 % quota on a Christmas programme in December 2008. It is astonishing that in the presence of PML (N) regime in Punjab there has been no implementation of this quota yet which is not a good symbol. Due to this there is utmost disappointment in the minorities’ youth. They are already frustrated due to the recent tragic incidents of Bahminiwala, Korian and Gojra. The Government should make all her efforts to comfort them and issue notification without any further delay. There must be considerations that the minorities may not be deprived of their fundamental right. Punjab government is requested to follow the notification of Federal government. I was assured last week on a telephone call by Mr. Kamran Michael, Minister of Human Rights and Minorities Affairs that notification of 5% quota for minorities will be issued in the next three or four days but there has not been action on it yet.
September 10, 2009
http://www.thefrontierpost.com
Minorities Quota in Punjab
Prof. Anjum James Paul Faisalabad
The Federal Government has already issued five per cent quota for minorities in the civil services of Pakistan but government of Punjab is hesitating to issue the notification in this regard. Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA) has grave concerns on this issue as there have already been recruitments in different departments ignoring 5% quota for the religious minorities. Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Quaid of Pakistan Muslim League (N) announced 5 % quota on a Christmas programme in December 2008. It is astonishing that in the presence of PML (N) regime in Punjab there has been no implementation of this quota yet which is not a good symbol. Due to this there is utmost disappointment in the minorities’ youth. They are already frustrated due to the recent tragic incidents of Bahminiwala, Korian and Gojra. The Government should make all her efforts to comfort them and issue notification without any further delay. There must be considerations that the minorities may not be deprived of their fundamental right. Punjab government is requested to follow the notification of Federal government. I was assured last week on a telephone call by Mr. Kamran Michael, Minister of Human Rights and Minorities Affairs that notification of 5% quota for minorities will be issued in the next three or four days but there has not been action on it yet.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Christmas program held at Catholic Church Samundri on December 22,2004
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| Professor Firdous Anjum is addressing the audience |
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| Professor Anjum James Paul is addressing the audience |
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| Father Tahir Rauf is addressing the audience |
Burning alive of Christians in Gojra Pakistan on August 1,2009
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| Sister Densilla James Paul HF engaged in the rehabilitation work |
.JPG)
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| Ms. Firdous Anjum is assisting the victims of Gojra incident |
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