Human Right Defender under life threat in Pakistan

According to a prayer request of Legal Evangelical Association Development LEAD, Sardar Mushtaq Gill, a Christian human rights defender, at high risk goes in hiding after physical attack -security considerations for him and his family lives.

He has also earlier expressed serious concern for his and his family safety after threats were issued by both religious motivated militants and extremists groups and the individual criminals; despite seeking protection from the authorities his call for security has been ignored.

Now he is at high risk, goes in hiding after physical attacks and life threats because of his human rights work for victims of blasphemy laws, victims of mob violence, victims of forced conversion to Islam and victims of forced into Islamic marriages and rape victims. He is Christian rights lawyer who risks his life for the promotion and protection of fundamental rights for all in Pakistan and boldly criticizes the misuse of blasphemy laws against religious minorities particularly against Christians in Pakistan. 

- See more at: http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com/detail.php?hnewsid=5985#sthash.ML4v71jz.dpuf

Threat of ISIS’ terrorism looms larger than nuclear menace says a Pakistani church leader

Police in Pakistan are doing little to protect the minority Christian community from the harassment they face from the Muslim majority, including threats to convert to Islam or abandon their homes, according to an Asian Human Rights Commission report.

While attacks and persecution against Christians have been ongoing throughout the country in the past few years, AHRC said in its report that Christians residing in Chak 44, Mandi Bahaudin, Punjab Province, have especially faced aggression at the hands of the local Muslim community.

The human rights report summarized several local instances of Muslims placing conditions on Christians to choose between converting to Islam or leaving the village, a threat which police have done little to respond to. What is more, Christians often face unsubstantiated allegations of blasphemy, which puts them in trouble with Islamic clerics.

Christian residents of Chak 44 have said as many as 75 percent of followers of Christ have fled from the village, while those who remain have no food to eat, with the local Muslims refusing to sell them provisions.

"The situation is getting worse with each passing day. The Christians are living in constant fear that their houses may be set on fire by a mob if the police does not provide them with round the clock security," the AHRC report warned.

The human rights group has called on both the central Pakistan government and the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the freedom of religion to intervene and pressure local police to do more to ensure the safety of worshipers, as well as to bring perpetrators of violence to justice.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-persecution-on-rise-pakistan-believers-fear-torching-homes-muslim-mobs-166090/#3rGHtjLfxsOUiutZ.99

Police in Pakistan are doing little to protect the minority Christian community from the harassment they face from the Muslim majority, including threats to convert to Islam or abandon their homes, according to an Asian Human Rights Commission report.

While attacks and persecution against Christians have been ongoing throughout the country in the past few years, AHRC said in its report that Christians residing in Chak 44, Mandi Bahaudin, Punjab Province, have especially faced aggression at the hands of the local Muslim community.

The human rights report summarized several local instances of Muslims placing conditions on Christians to choose between converting to Islam or leaving the village, a threat which police have done little to respond to. What is more, Christians often face unsubstantiated allegations of blasphemy, which puts them in trouble with Islamic clerics.

Christian residents of Chak 44 have said as many as 75 percent of followers of Christ have fled from the village, while those who remain have no food to eat, with the local Muslims refusing to sell them provisions.

"The situation is getting worse with each passing day. The Christians are living in constant fear that their houses may be set on fire by a mob if the police does not provide them with round the clock security," the AHRC report warned.

The human rights group has called on both the central Pakistan government and the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the freedom of religion to intervene and pressure local police to do more to ensure the safety of worshipers, as well as to bring perpetrators of violence to justice.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-persecution-on-rise-pakistan-believers-fear-torching-homes-muslim-mobs-166090/#3rGHtjLfxsOUiutZ.99

Ultra terror group Islamic State poses a greater threat to the world than by atomic bombs, says Pastor Samuel Khokhar. In the wake of growing terrorism across the globe there is an inevitable need to stamp out inciters of terrorism and terror outfits including Islamic State.

“If the menace of Islamic State is not done away with, the world will not be a safer place for our generations to come,” he said. Terrorism has enveloped Pakistan and the entire world; as a result Islam is being defamed owing to ISIS and other terror groups.

Pastor Samuel said that all religions including Muslims and international community should join forces against ISIS. Each country should play a role in ridding the world from this peril of terrorism. “ISIS has ringed alarm bells for the entire world,” he said.

He went on to explain that the terrorist start targeting the land where they have born and been bred. They carry out suicide attack in their own homeland, not even sparing their own birthplace. This is a clear indication of moral degeneration in their minds and character. Every religion forbids such acts, he said.

“These terrorists eye for a state inside a state. Their only mission is to conquer the world,” he explained. The painstaking task of eradication of terrorism will not be efficacious until there are people who facilitate the terrorists in any way.

Pastor Samuel urged the United Nations to chalk out a solid strategy in order to wipe out the scourge of terrorism from the face of the world. He said that the it is about time, when the international community should join hands and against ISIS and other outfits which spread terror in the world and murder people.

http://www.christiansinpakistan.com/threat-of-isis-terrorism-looms-larger-than-nuclear-menace-says-a-pakistani-church-leader/

In Pakistan, Funding for 'University of Jihad' Draws Fire

Ayaz Gul

Weeks of scathing criticism have apparently prompted a provincial government in Pakistan to review a $3 million grant it recently allocated to a controversial Islamic seminary that some critics call the “University of Jihad.”

The Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary, or madrasa, headed by former senator Samiul Haq, is located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province bordering Afghanistan.

Haq’s madrasa, where about 4,000 students are enrolled, is widely known for links to, and publicly expressed sympathies for, the Taliban who are fighting local and U.S.-led international forces in Afghanistan. That association has won the Islamic cleric the title of “Father of the Taliban.”

The political party that rules the province is headed by legendary cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, and a staunch critic of the U.S.-led anti-terror war in the region. Khan, a strong opponent of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is popular among educated Pakistani youth.

While provincial ministers defend the financial grant as part of efforts to “mainstream” thousands of madrasas around the province, Khan has distanced himself from the decision, although he did reiterate his support for introducing reforms in religious institutions.

Speaking to VOA at his Bani Gala residence near Islamabad, Khan said he was unaware of the funding for Haqqania madrasa until the media drew his attention to it.

He said the provincial chief minister used his discretionary powers to allocate the funds without his knowledge and without informing some of his Cabinet ministers. But Khan says he has now instructed the provincial authority to submit a report to him to justify the allocation. Under Pakistan’s constitution, a party chief is empowered to do so and can dismiss a public office holder if he or she goes against party policy. 

"The situation is evolving right now," Khan said. "What we want the KP government to do now is to announce exactly how this money will be spent; how is it going to mainstream this madrasa, which is one of the main madrasas in KP, and we have been assured by the government that, in the next few days, they will give us the details about how specifically this money will be spent."

Both Mullah Omar and Jalaluddin Haqqani — founders of Afghanistan’s Islamist Taliban and the lethal Haqqani network respectively — are believed to have studied in the Haqqania madrasa. Taliban leader Mullah Akthar Mansoor, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in May, may also have been a former student.

Madrasa's history

The Haqqania madrasa was one of the seminaries Pakistani and U.S. intelligence agencies used to recruit fighters for the jihad against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s.

A large number of seminary graduates have also joined Taliban ranks fighting the U.S.-led international forces and their local allies in Afghanistan.

Many politicians question why so much money is being given to the seminary while more moderate institutions are not receiving similar funding.

Khan stopped short of saying he might instruct the provincial government to cancel the funding for the seminary in the wake of growing criticism from political opponents, media commentators and civil society activists.

"Well, it depends where the money is being spent, if this money is going to mainstream the students who, at the moment, are basically marginalized," Khan said. "The party policy is to mainstream the students from these madrasas."  

Khan pointed out that there are about 2.2 million students in madrasas across the province who come from families that are unable to pay fees in private or government schools, so there is a need to teach them modern subjects to enable them to get jobs.

"Our main concern is that we should be bringing these people into [the] mainstream, and so that they become part of the society," he said.  "Marginalization everywhere in the world, now we know, leads to radicalization. The ISIS [or Islamic State] has mainly got recruits from Muslim communities living in Europe who are marginalized.”

Political involvement

Political analyst and author Zahid Hussain views the seminary funding as politically motivated, but warns such actions could undermine Pakistan’s successes against religious extremism and terrorism.

“Such a move could reverse the gains that have been made so far in fighting militancy and extremism," Hussain wrote in the daily Dawn. "It is simply a political bribe and nothing to do with any professed effort to de-radicalize religious seminaries and bring them into the mainstream. In fact, favoring one group of a particular sect could encourage bigotry and fuel religious disharmony.”

Religious parties have traditionally struggled in national elections in Pakistan, hardly winning more than a few seats in parliament.

However, in conservative regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, religious conservatives still influence regional politics, preventing Khan’s party from winning an outright majority in the provincial assembly. He relies on support from an Islamic fundamentalist party to run the coalition government there.

http://www.voanews.com/content/pakistan-reviewing-grant-for-controversial-islamic-seminary/3403010.html

Bilawal Bhutto extends heartfelt greetings to all Muslims around the globe on Eid-ul-Fitr

Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party extends heartfelt greetings to all the Muslims in Pakistan and the Muslims around the globe on the joyous occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. 

Chairman PPP stated that, “I would like to extend warmest wishes to Muslims in Pakistan and around the world celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr. Eid is a time to celebrate the completion of the month of devotion. On this day of festivities, we should remember those less fortunate, including those impacted by the ongoing terrorism and extremism in the world.” 

Moreover, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari urged the Pakistani nation to stand united and share happiness among each other. “On this Eid let us also spare a thought for those members of our armed forces, the police, the law enforcing agencies and civilians who laid down their lives in the fight against militants. May Allah guides us to continue with the spirit of Ramazan throughout the year and help the lives of our brethren disrupted by extremists, displacements and poverty.”

He also prayed to Allah Almighty to ease the sufferings of fellow countrymen and protect the country and bless it with peace, prosperity and development.

https://mediacellppp.wordpress.com/2016/07/05/bilawal-bhuttozardari-extends-heartfelt-greetings-to-all-muslims-around-the-globe-on-eid-ul-fitr/

Bilawal Bhutto urges authorities to help flood victims

Pakistan People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed deep grief over the loss of human lives and properties in rainstorm and flash floods in Chitral and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In a statement issued by the Bilawal House on Sunday, he urged the authorities concerned and PPP workers to extend required help to the affected people immediately.

The PPP chairman said that such natural devastations inflict worst losses on the people of the affected areas stressing that entire nation should unite and contribute to ameliorating conditions and rehabilitation of displaced people.

He stressed the need for prompt relief besides required medical facilities from both federal and provincial governments.

On a separate note, a delegation of heirs of the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar martyrs called on Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at Bilawal House.

According to a statement issued on Sunday, the delegation informed him about their endeavours and efforts for establishment of trauma centres in Peshawar and Lahore like Benazir Bhutto Trauma Centre developed by PPP government in Karachi.

Tahseenullah, Mrs.Falak Naz, Ahmed Jan, Amna Ali, Miss Uzma, Amir Ameen and Syed Muhammad Ali Shah were part of the delegation.

"In Karachi, we are starting our visit from the house of our martyr mother Benazir Bhutto as both Bilawal House and our houses share and understand the pain, which families of martyrs undergo in their hearts and souls," said one of the heir of APS martyrs while speaking on the occasion.

Bilawal Bhutto said that brave parents of APS martyr children who want to turn their pain into strength and contribute to the society in the form of Shuhda-e-APS Trauma Centre in Peshawar and Lahore for treatment of deeply traumatised people as a sacred cause in the memory of the little martyrs of APS Peshawar.

The heirs of APS martyrs informed the PPP chairman that Shuhda-e-APS Trauma Centre will be established for the purpose of the revival and rehabilitation of the affected families of 144 innocent martyrs of APS Peshawar attack. The families of the martyrs and the injured students have joined hands to raise funds for this Trauma Centre in the heart of Lahore, he added.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that those who target children, women and innocent people are coward people and his mother laid down her life for their protection and challenged extremism and terrorism bravely as the tallest leader of the nation.

The PPP chairman said that he would contribute from his own pocket for Shuhda-e-APS Trauma Centre and also ask Sindh government for extending help for this noble cause.

http://dailytimes.com.pk/sindh/04-Jul-16/bilawal-urges-authorities-to-help-flood-victims