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| Barrister David Nivens , Chief Guest from New zealand is distributing prizes among the players of the cricket |
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| L to R Professor Anjum James Paul, Director SHADOW and Chief Guest Davud Nivens |
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Peace Cricket Tournament at Chak No.139 GB Barrister David Niven Chief Guest in 2009
Lecture of David Niven's on peace in Samundri in December 2009
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| Mr. David Nivens giving a talk to the youth on the peace and interfaith harmony |
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Some Pakistani Christian victims of Gojra violence refuse USAID’s aid packets
ASSIST News Service (ANS)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Some Pakistani Christian victims of Gojra violence refuse USAID’s aid packets
Punjab government gives double the amount of compensation to a Muslim family
By Dan Wooding and Sheraz Khurram KhanSpecial to ASSIST News Service
LAHORE, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- In a rare display of defiance, a few Christian victims of Gojra threw away aid packets they had received from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Monday, October 5, 2009, after they alleged that the government’s interpreter was not conveying a Christian family’s point of view to the US consulate’s principal officer.
One of the affected Christians living in a tent while his burned house is being reconstructedSome 150 Christian families were rendered homeless in Korian and Gojra after their houses were burned by miscreants following rumors that Christians of Korian had committed blasphemy in July of this year.
Gojra is a small town in the Pakistani province Punjab, near Korian, where at least seven Christians were burned alive by a gang of Muslims on August 1, 2009.
Ms. Carmela Conroy, the principal officer of the US Consulate in Lahore had personally distributed a few aid packets to some Christian victims of Korian and Gojra during a ceremony held at Catholic Church in Gojra on October 5.
USAID left the rest of the aid packets in Gojra to be distributed by Catholic Church and the local administration.
Carmela Conroy, Principal Officer of the U.S. Consulate in Lahore
ANS has learned that the USAID’s aid packet for each of the 150 affected Christian families of Gojra and Korian consisted of six blankets, four quilts, four mattresses, four mats, two plastic buckets, two water cans, two nets, a carton of utensils and three kilograms of washing soap. These items are now lying in the Gojra Catholic Church.
A Disruption during Carmela Conroy’s 35 minute visit to the Christian colony in Gojra occurred while she was talking to Hameed’s family members. Hameed is one of the seven Christians, who lost their lives in the wake of Gojra violence in August.
ANS has discovered that a few Christian victims of Gojra threw away their aid packets that they had earlier received, when some educated Christian men alleged that the government’s interpreter was not properly conveying the reservations of Hameed’s family to the US Consulate’s principal officer.
Professor Anjum James Paul, Director of Social Harmony and Development of Women, who led a fact-finding team to Gojra to probe why some Christians refused USAID’s aid packets, told ANS that Christians said they would welcome aid from all quarters but alleged that the “partisan role of the government’s interpreter” made a few throw away their packets in anger.
A Christian spokesman for the residents of Gojra told Professor Anjum James Paul: “We are highly thankful to the US government and people who are with us to share their grief with the persecuted Christians.
A USAID packet
"We are accepting all sorts of help and we do not deny accepting aid from our brethren of the United States.
“We need justice besides help from our well wishers.”
According to the professor, at least three major factors angered Christians of Gojra:
One, the police had accused some 129 Christians of provoking the Gojra violence in a supplementary version of Police First Information report (FIR).
The number of unidentified Christians in the police FIR is 100 whereas 29 others have also been named. The addition people who have been named included the Rt. Rev. Bishop John Samuel of Faisalabad Diocese, his two sons Adnan and Sharoon, Gojra Tehsil (administrative division) and Councilor Fanyas Masih.
The affected Christians allege the police are pressuring them to broker reconciliation with Muslims. A Pakistani court on Saturday, September 19 granted bail to some 18 Muslims who were arrested in the wake of Gojra violence under the the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Two, police have arrested two Christian men named Nouman Shahu and Naveed Shahu. The local Christians demand the immediate release of the pair who are brothers.
Three, a speech by Dost Muhammad Khosa, a Muslim Member of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab for the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz on October 5 added to the existing anger among Christians because Mr. Khosa had some days back given double the amount of compensation to the family of a deceased Muslim man as compared to the amount received by Christian families, who lost their loved ones during August 1 violence in Gojra.
ANS has learned that Mr. Khosa gave (10,000,000 Pakistani rupees ($12,019.23 USD) to the family of a Muslim man who died as a consequence of injuries received during Gojra violence. The Punjab government gave 500,000 Pakistani rupees ($6,006.7277 USD) compensation money to each of the Christian families of Gojra who lost their family members during Gojra violence.
Current Situation
Government of Punjab had allocated 20 million Pakistani rupees ($240,269.15 USD) for the re-construction of some 150 houses of Christians in Korian and Gojra. The on-going reconstruction work will be completed in a month time at the most.
The Christians of Gojra and Korian are currently living in tents and the latter have put up tents in a graveyard. It is feared that rain could make Christians highly vulnerable to contracting water-borne diseases. Christians live in a state of fear and uncertainty. As their houses were burnt to ashes, the students are without any academic certificates and degrees. It is uncertain to say when they would get their duplicate degrees given the procedural snags in the system.
ANS has learned that Christian students in Korian are being threatened that their names would be struck off from the school enrolment register after school examinations. The majority of Christian victims in Gojra are sanitary workers whereas the Christians of Korain are brick-kiln workers, field laborers and peasants.
Interestingly, family of Hameed Masih, who was one of the seven Christians burned alive in August have not had their house reconstructed yet as they want the house to remain like this so that people visiting the area could see the extent of damage that was done to Christians houses after the houses were set on fire.
The critics say a fast-paced re-construction of Christians’ houses is underway as the Punjab government wants to cover up its failure to protect the lives and properties of Christians in Korian and Gojra.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Pakistani Christian janitors protest over non-payment of salaries
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.”
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.”
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."
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