A portrait of Shahbaz Bhatti from the Pakistan National Assembly roster. Credit: www.na.gov.pk.
Rome Newsroom, Jan 15, 2021 / 07:00 am (CNA).- The diocese of Rome will host a memorial Mass on Friday for Servant of God Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic politician in Pakistan assassinated by an Islamic terrorist group 10 years ago.
Bhatti served as Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Minorities Affairs from 2008 to 2011. He advocated for four member seats for religious minority candidates in Pakistan’s senate and spoke out against religious persecution, especially the misuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.
At the time of his death, he was the only Christian in Pakistan’s federal cabinet. He was gunned down by members of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan while driving in Islamabad on March 2, 2011, after receiving death threats for more than a year.
Archbishop supports freed Pakistani prisoners
Christians were arrested in 2015 for the murder of two Muslims wrongly suspected of carrying out church bombings
Archbishop Sebastian Shaw (second left) with Ejaz Alam Augustine (center) at St. John s Catholic Church in Youhanabad on Dec. 19. (Photo supplied)
Archbishop Sebastian Shaw of Lahore has handed over rickshaws and business supplies to Christians and a Muslim freed from prison.
“We aim at making you independent with means of employment. This is our Christmas gift to you. Those demanding motorcycles will be further supported. We shall completely support you,” he said.
Archbishop Shaw was speaking on Dec. 19 at St. John s Catholic Church in Youhanabad, a low-income area of Lahore that is home to about 150,000 Christians.
Woman wins inheritance 22 years after her death
Apex court notes Punjab revenue department depriving people of its rights
Supreme Court of Pakistan. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The top court has declared a female litigant a rightful heir to her father’s inheritance 22 years after her death, noting that mismanagement, antiquated practices and carelessness of Punjab Revenue Department is depriving weaker members of society – women and orphans – of their rights. In many cases dealt by us, we painfully observe the deterioration and decline in the performance of the Revenue Department, absence of proper record keeping and the erosion of a system of checks and balances. Suspected transactions are easily recorded by disregarding the stipulated legal requirements.
Woman wins inheritance 22 years after her death
Apex court notes Punjab revenue department depriving people of its rights
Supreme Court of Pakistan. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The top court has declared a female litigant a rightful heir to her father’s inheritance 22 years after her death, noting that mismanagement, antiquated practices and carelessness of Punjab Revenue Department is depriving weaker members of society – women and orphans – of their rights. In many cases dealt by us, we painfully observe the deterioration and decline in the performance of the Revenue Department, absence of proper record keeping and the erosion of a system of checks and balances. Suspected transactions are easily recorded by disregarding the stipulated legal requirements.
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December 11, 2020
LAHORE: Special Assistant to Chief Minister (SACM) Punjab on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has alleged that the ‘Calibri queen’ [Maryam Nawaz] has created a ‘baton force’, she wants to make Lahore a battleground and create chaos and anarchy in the city.
She was addressing a press conference at DGPR offices in connection with the International Human Rights Day observance, here on Thursday. Punjab Minister for Human Right, Minorities Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Ijaz Alam Augustine was also present.
Dr Firsous said the ‘royal Calibri queen’ was spreading coronavirus and playing with the lives of innocent people, just for her political interests. She said the government was making strenuous efforts to stop the spread of corona and ensure strict implementation of the standard operating procedures (SOPs).