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India-Pakistan
Rana Sanaullah appointed PM Shehbaz's adviser on political affairs
2024-05-01
[GEO.TV] Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Pakistain Moslem League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab
1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots....

President Rana Sanaullah as his adviser on political and public affairs.

President Asif Ali Ten Percent Zardari
...former president of Pakistain, husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, who has been singularly lacking in curiosity about who done her in...
approved the appointment of the PML-N stalwart as the prime minister's adviser, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.

The statement posted on president’s official account on X, formerly Twitter, said that Sanaullah will have the status of a federal minister.

"The president approved the appointment of Rana Sanaullah Khan on prime minister’s advice under Article 93-1 of the Constitution," the post read.

It is pertinent to mention that the PML-N stalwart served as the interior minister during the previous government, but lost in general election 2024 on the National Assembly seat (NA-100) in Faisalabad
...formerly known as Lyallpur, the third largest metropolis in Pakistain, the second largest in Punjab after Lahore. It is named after some Arab because the Paks didn't have anybody notable of their own to name it after...
Sanaullah's appointment comes a day after Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s designation as deputy prime minister as an additional charge to his existing post.

It may be noted that the former interior minister had recently expressed the possibility of being given role in the federal government.

While speaking on Geo News programme "Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath" on Monday, the politician said that Nawaz would decide about giving a ministry to him after concluding his China visit.
Link


Olde Tyme Religion
Christian human rights activists ‘briefly detained, tortured’ by police in Faisalabad
2023-09-24
[Dawn] Two human rights
...which often include carefully measured allowances of freedom at the convenience of the state...
activists visiting Faisalabad
...formerly known as Lyallpur, the third largest metropolis in Pakistain, the second largest in Punjab after Lahore. It is named after some Arab because the Paks didn't have anybody notable of their own to name it after...
from Bloody Karachi
Link


India-Pakistan
Rawalpindi man arrested, booked over desecration of Bible: police
2023-09-17
Yes, I know, dear Reader. I’m shocked, too.
[Dawn] A man was arrested and booked in Rawalpindi on Saturday in connection with the desecration of the Bible — the holy book of the Christian faith.

The incident came to light when a video showing a man insulting the Bible with a slipper surfaced on Twitter.

In response to the video, the Rawalpindi police stated that the suspect was "swiftly traced" and apprehended through "prompt law enforcement action".

The police further stated that an "exemplary punishment" would be meted out to the suspect following a "thorough and merit-based" investigation.

Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer Syed Khurram Ali told Dawn.com the arrest was made earlier in the day.

He further stated that the suspect will be presented in court tomorrow (Sunday) to secure his physical remand, enabling the commencement of the interrogation process.

A case regarding the incident was filed at the Morgah cop shoppe based on a complaint lodged by Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Naveed Aslam, invoking Section 298 of the Pakistain Penal Code (PPC), which pertains to uttering words with a deliberate intent to wound religious feelings.

In the first information report, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, ASI Aslam explained that he "saw a viral video on social media in which an individual was seen disrespecting Christianity and the Bible".

PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal termed the incident a "shameful act".

"Where Islam teaches respect for one’s beliefs, it also teaches respect for the beliefs of others. It is the responsibility of the state to provide religious protection to its citizens," he said, adding that society collectively had to eliminate such behaviour.

It is pertinent to mention that on August 16, a violent mostly peaceful mob of hundreds ransacked and torched five churches, attacked the residences of members of the Christian community and the office of the local assistant commissioner, following an alleged incident of blasphemy
...the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence to a deity, or sacred objects, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable. Some religions consider it to be a crime. In Pakistain you can commit blasphemy by looking cross-eyed at a Koran...
in Jaranwala town of Faisalabad
...formerly known as Lyallpur, the third largest metropolis in Pakistain, the second largest in Punjab after Lahore. It is named after some Arab because the Paks didn't have anybody notable of their own to name it after...
district.
Related:
Rawalpindi: 2023-09-15 Daily Evacuation Brief September 15, 2023
Rawalpindi: 2023-09-11 Daily Evacuation Brief September 11, 2023
Rawalpindi: 2023-09-11 Seven terrorists killed, six injured in Chitral shootout
Related:
Jaranwala: 2023-09-11 Christian couple arrested for alleged desecration in Lahore
Jaranwala: 2023-09-09 Balochistan CTD guns down 5 ‘TTP terrorists’ in operation in Quetta’s Aghberg
Jaranwala: 2023-09-08 Militant behind Quetta Hazara killings arrested near Afghanistan border
Related:
Blasphemy: 2023-09-11 Christian couple arrested for alleged desecration in Lahore
Blasphemy: 2023-09-06 Rowan Akinson aka Mr. Bean Isn't A Fan Of Electric Cars
Blasphemy: 2023-08-25 118 Jaranwala riots suspects on physical remand
Link


India-Pakistan
Damage to Jaranwala churches, homes estimated at Rs67m
2023-08-23
[Dawn] Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Monday visited Jaranwala, days after violent mostly peaceful mobs destroyed dozens of houses and churches over allegations of blasphemy
...the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence to a deity, or sacred objects, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable. Some religions consider it to be a crime. In Pakistain you can commit blasphemy by looking cross-eyed at a Koran...
, to express solidarity with the Christian community and distribute compensation cheques among families whose houses were burnt down by the frenzied mob.

According to estimates compiled by Faisalabad
...formerly known as Lyallpur, the third largest metropolis in Pakistain, the second largest in Punjab after Lahore. It is named after some Arab because the Paks didn't have anybody notable of their own to name it after...
’s district administration, at least 22 churches ransacked by mobs suffered damages to the tune of Rs29.1 million whereas 91 houses which bore the brunt of violence suffered losses to the tune of Rs38.5 million. The administration forwarded this report to the provincial government. The list of items destroyed by the mob included fans, air-conditioners, water filter plants, generators, carpets, furniture, and other electrical appliances.

During his speech in Jaranwala on his first official visit anywhere in the country, the interim premier said it was the duty of the state to protect the lives and properties of religious minorities. "It is the responsibility of the government to ensure the safety of every citizen," PM Kakar said.

The interim PM stressed the need for interfaith unity and said anyone found committing injustices with minorities would have to face the consequences from the state. "Extremism has nothing to do with any religion, language or region," the premier remarked.

"The Christian community played an important role in the creation of Pakistain and it is the responsibility of every Moslem to protect the minority community." The premier distributed cheques for Rs2 million each among the members of the Christian community whose houses were destroyed during the violence.

HUNT FOR SUSPECTS UNDERWAY
During the ceremony, Punjab
1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots....

Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi said police were hunting suspects with the help of CCTV footage and geo-fencing, adding that culprits would have to face punishment under the law.

He said whatever damage the churches suffered, they would be restored to their original condition within days and handed over to their respective administrations.

He announced that financial assistance would be provided to each victim.

According to a handout, the CM conveyed that the dedication towards "aiding the community is unwavering".

He vowed neither the prime minister nor the CM would simply "make fleeting appearances" as the government would be persistent in its engagements.

The chief minister assured that substantial efforts were being "exerted to ensure a just resolution for the Christian community, with visible results expected in the near future".
Related:
Jaranwala: 2023-08-21 Interfaith committee formed to address Jaranwala incident
Jaranwala: 2023-08-20 Good Morning
Jaranwala: 2023-08-20 'Regrettable incident': Justice Isa visits Jaranwala, assures Christian community of all-out support
Link


India-Pakistan
Interfaith committee formed to address Jaranwala incident
2023-08-21
[GEO.TV] In a bid to probe the tragic incident in Faisalabad
...formerly known as Lyallpur, the third largest metropolis in Pakistain, the second largest in Punjab after Lahore. It is named after some Arab because the Paks didn't have anybody notable of their own to name it after...
's Jaranwala, foster interfaith and interdenominational unity, and quell bad boy narratives, the Pakistain Ulema Council (PUC) and Church of Pakistain on Sunday jointly established a 24-member committee.
Good idea. Interfaith committees always work.
Sure, if you want your thoroughbred racehorse to be a camel.
On August 16, a crowd vandalised several churches and set scores of houses on fire in Jaranwala town of the industrial district of Faisalabad after a few miscreants made announcements in mosques inciting the mob to attack under allegations of blasphemy
...the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence to a deity, or sacred objects, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable. Some religions consider it to be a crime. In Pakistain you can commit blasphemy by looking cross-eyed at a Koran...
Co-chaired by PUC Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi and Church of Pakistain President Bishop Azad Marshal, the committee comprises diverse leaders including Bishop Aleem Anwar, Bishop Arshad Joseph, Pir Naqibur Rehman, Sahibzada Hassan Haseebur Rehman, Maulana Ziaullah Shah Bukhari, APP reported.

Ashrafi stresses need for tolerance
During an interaction with the media, Ashrafi said that building a peaceful and resilient Pakistain required active participation from all segments of society.

He stressed the inclusion of leaders from various religions in the 24-member committee, bridging the gap between Moslem and Christian leaders.

"We must strive to cultivate tolerance, respect, and patience in our society and reject any attempts to exploit religion for personal or political gains," he added.

He further noted that concerted efforts would be made across all levels to discourage illegal actions under the guise of blasphemy or religious insult.

Ashrafi said the PUC had pledged to provide assistance to the young victims of the Jaranwala incident, announcing their commitment to organize arrangements for the affected girls’ dowries as part of their ongoing support efforts.
Related:
Jaranwala: 2023-08-20 Good Morning
Jaranwala: 2023-08-20 'Regrettable incident': Justice Isa visits Jaranwala, assures Christian community of all-out support
Jaranwala: 2023-08-19 Pak govt promises to restore Jadanwala churches by next week
Link


India-Pakistan
'Regrettable incident': Justice Isa visits Jaranwala, assures Christian community of all-out support
2023-08-20
[GEO.TV] Chief Justice Designate Qazi Faez Isa on Saturday visited Jaranwala to meet and express solidarity with the Christian community after violent mostly peaceful attacks on their houses and churches over alleged blasphemy
...the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence to a deity, or sacred objects, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable. Some religions consider it to be a crime. In Pakistain you can commit blasphemy by looking cross-eyed at a Koran...
allegations.
You wanta express "solidarity?" Show up in church on Sunday.
On August 16, a crowd vandalised several churches and set scores of houses on fire in Jaranwala town of the industrial district of Faisalabad
...formerly known as Lyallpur, the third largest metropolis in Pakistain, the second largest in Punjab after Lahore. It is named after some Arab because the Paks didn't have anybody notable of their own to name it after...
after holy men made announcements in mosques inciting the mob to attack the Christian community under allegations of blasphemy.
"Disrespected our holy idols, they did! Shot the moon at our moon! Then tore up a koran and wrote dirty words on it!"
Paramilitary troops were called in to handle the violence and bring the situation under control, according to a government order seen by Rooters.
Betcha no (zero) holy men were arrested.
The attack sparked outrage on social media and among political and religious figures in Pakistain, who condemned the incident, saying that there was no room for such extreme behaviour.
Seems like there is, since there was.
The Supreme Court's judge arrived in Jaranwala with his wife and visited the Christian colony.
And everybody was ever so glad to see him.
Justice Isa reviewed the situation of the houses and churches that were attacked earlier this week.
And everything's all better now.
"Three days have passed since the incident and the streets are still not clean," said Justice Isa while expressing displeasure with the deputy commissioner and directing him to get the streets cleaned immediately.
"Yeah. Clean up that wreckage!"
Expressing regret over the incident, the senior puisne
I have no idea what that word means.
According to the internet, it’s a senior court judge in the British system who is under the chief justice. Pronounced puny, which goes to show.
judge met the victims, assuring them of all-out support.
Just like they did the last time.
He told the Christian community that they have equal rights as everyone else, adding that all citizens are equal.
"That's right. In Pakistain anybody can form a mob! And does!"
Speaking to the Christian victims, Justice Isa said that it was the duty of Moslems to catch the perpetrators if churches are attacked. He added that Christians have equal rights to build a church as Moslems have to build a mosque.
Moslems have equal rights to burn a church, but Christians don't have equal rights to burn down a mosque.
During his visit, the judge and his wife also provided financial assistance to the victims and distributed food packages among them.
"I am here as a citizen and it is everyone's duty to help you," he told the victims.
Why was it everyone's duty to burn the Christians' houses down?
Those things won’t burn themselves, you know.
34 NOMINATED, 600 UNKNOWN SUSPECTS BOOKED
According to a The News report, the city's police have started the paperwork but haven't done much else against 34 and nominated 600 unknown under 18 sections of the Pakistain Penal Code (PPC) and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) following the incident.
But not 34 holy men. And the 600 unknown will probably remain unknown. And the 34 not holy men will get off for lack of evidence or misspellings on the paperwork.
The publication further claimed that 29 nominated suspects have been arrested in connection with the Wednesday rampage.
The other five are still in the mosques, discussing the whole thing with learned holy men.
The police on Thursday also nominated Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat
...which is the false nose and plastic mustache of the murderous banned extremist group Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistain, whatcha might call the political wing of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi...
(ASWJ) Jaranwala President Mufti Mohammad Younis Rizvi and Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistain (TLP) leader Syed Asifullah Shah in the case.
My guess would be they weren't home if the cops arrived to arrest them.
Separately, caretaker Chief Minister Punjab
1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots....

Mohsin Naqvi said both individuals, accused of desecrating the Holy Koran, had been arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD).
They always manage to get those guys.
'SWIFT ACTION'
Meanwhile,
...back at the revival hall, the SWAT team had finally arrived...
Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch had said Pakistain was fully determined to protect and promote the constitutionally-guaranteed rights and freedoms of individuals belonging to religious minorities.
We can see that. This only happens once or twice a year. Maybe three times. Or four. Not that often, really.
In a statement, she said as a country following law and Constitution, Pakistain could not accept the intolerant and violent mostly peaceful incident in Faisalabad.
In that case, let the "blasphemers" go and make sure nobody bothers them.
She said these acts are illegal and unconstitutional.
But you have a blasphemy law, so holy men gotta use it now and then to show how powerful they are.
"Our law enforcement authorities took swift action yesterday.
"Blindingly swift. We're talkin' speed of light here!"
They have been instructed by the prime minister to apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice," she added.
"Caught those blaspheming boogers in a matter of short minutes!"
Related:
Jaranwala: 2023-08-17 Armed Mobs Go On The Rampage, Burn Churches, Christian Homes In Pakistan After Blasphemy Allegations
Jaranwala: 2019-05-25 ATC hands 18-year term to lawyer for attacking judge
Jaranwala: 2019-03-01 Four booked for torture of minor maid in Faisalabad
Related:
Qazi Faez Isa: 2022-08-10 ANP wants report on 2016 Quetta tragedy implemented
Qazi Faez Isa: 2019-08-09 Lawyers seek implementation of Qazi Isa report on Quetta carnage
Qazi Faez Isa: 2019-01-29 Islamabad braces as SC set to hear plea against Aasia Bibi's acquittal
Related:
Express solidarity: 2023-08-09 Macron wants to return Niger by proxy
Express solidarity: 2023-07-08 8 Palestinians arrested for livestreaming harassment of mentally ill Haredi man
Express solidarity: 2023-04-21 Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: April 20th, 2023
Related:
Blasphemy: 2023-08-17 Daily Evacuation Brief August 17, 2023
Blasphemy: 2023-08-17 Armed Mobs Go On The Rampage, Burn Churches, Christian Homes In Pakistan After Blasphemy Allegations
Blasphemy: 2023-08-03 Indonesian Islamic school leader detained on blasphemy charge after Muslim groups protest
Related:
Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat: 2020-04-14 More than 50 clerics warn govt not to further restrictions on prayer congregations
Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat: 2018-08-25 2 men shot dead in Karachi 'after resisting robbery': police
Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat: 2018-06-29 Banned ASWJ chief Ludhianvi removed from Fourth Schedule
Related:
Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistain: 2021-10-30 No more breach of law by TLP to be tolerated; state organs ready to protect citizens' life, property: NSC
Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistain: 2021-04-19 6 security personnel taken hostage in Pakistan amid arrest of Islamist group leader
Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistain: 2020-11-18 Govt claims TLP has agreed to end protest demonstration in Islamabad
Related:
Mohsin Naqvi: 2023-08-17 Armed Mobs Go On The Rampage, Burn Churches, Christian Homes In Pakistan After Blasphemy Allegations
Mohsin Naqvi: 2023-05-21 Women involved in attacks on military installations to be arrested at all costs: Punjab CM
Mohsin Naqvi: 2023-05-01 Elahi's arrest bid: 'Illegal action' won't be allowed, says Punjab caretaker CM
Related:
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch: 2023-06-23 Pakistan rejects peace talks with TTP
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch: 2023-06-10 Beijing wants end to terror attacks on Pak-Iran border
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch: 2007-10-30 Pakistan hires another lobbyist in Washington
Link


India-Pakistan
Pak govt promises to restore Jadanwala churches by next week
2023-08-19
[Dawn] Punjab
1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots....

caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Friday that all damaged churches in Jaranwala will be restored by next week.

"Assessments are being made to gauge the extent of damage to destroyed homes, and financial assistance will be provided to affected families accordingly," Mr Naqvi said.

Mr Naqvi told a delegation of Christian leaders at the Chief Minister’s Office that the destroyed churches would be restored, latest by Tuesday, and compensation paid to those whose homes have been damaged.

"Assessments are being made to gauge the extent of damage to destroyed homes, and financial assistance will be provided to affected families accordingly," Mr Naqvi said. He said more arrests were being made and those involved in this heinous crime would not escape punishment. "We have video footages and other evidence to apprehend and bring the culprits of the tragedy to justice," he said.

The delegation of minority leaders — comprising Senator Kamran Michael, Bishop Azad Marshall, former MPA Shakeel Marcus Khokhar, Shahzad Gull, Pastor Jameel Nasir, Colonel McDonald Chandy, Pastor Anwar Fazal, Pastor Waseemullah Khokhar, Bishop Sebastian Shah — underscored the need to take swift action against the culprits to prevent such incidents in the future.

Doubts over blasphemy
...the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence to a deity, or sacred objects, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable. Some religions consider it to be a crime. In Pakistain you can commit blasphemy by looking cross-eyed at a Koran...
allegations

Also on Friday, two key officials cast doubt on the allegations of desecration of the Holy Koran, which became the basis for the mob’s rampage in Jaranwala.

In an interview with Rooters, Punjab police chief Usman Anwar said that pages of the Holy Koran were found in a street with derogatory comments written on them in red.

One attached extra page also carried the names, addresses and national identity card numbers of the accused. Police were investigating all angles as to why the names and addresses would be attached, he told Rooters.
That does indeed seem odd.
These concerns were echoed by caretaker Punjab information minister Amir Mir.

Speaking to Geo News anchorperson Shahzad Iqbal on Friday night, he said: "Initial investigation indicates that this was a conspiracy to provoke religious sentiments among the Moslem population and create a riot-like situation. The investigation is ongoing, and once completed, all findings will be made public".

He claimed there were currently two theories: "One suggests foreign involvement, while the other points to local religious elements. When a foreign force plans an activity, they employ their agents in the country to incite unrest. Then, sometimes, when individuals of different faiths, such as Christians and Moslems, are engaged in a dispute, a situation is fabricated to exploit religious sentiments for personal gain."

"Consider how it all began — just after the Fajr prayers, when some individuals exiting the mosque found pages of the Holy Koran with inappropriate words written on them. Interestingly, the names of a Christian man... and his two sons were written on the pages in red ink, along with their telephone numbers and addresses, and their photos were also attached," he said.

Later, the men were held responsible for desecrating the holy book, he said, asking: "Do you think anyone planning blasphemy would write their own name, address, and telephone number and leave the pages in front of a mosque?"

Footprints: Nothing to come home to
Human interest stories including of Muslim neighbours who hid fleeing Christians, finishing with this:
[Dawn] Azeem, the pastor’s son, said the miscreants burnt Catholic Church, then Salvation Army Church first, and later the UP and All Evangel Covenant Church. He claimed that about 25 big and small churches were attacked in Jaranwala tehsil, but many of the incidents remained unreported.

“Four churches were burnt in Noora Colony, three in Mohranwala, two in Aik Bees Wali Aabadi, five in Shehruanawala and Kamuana, one in village Dhebian in Chak 55.”

According to Azeem, the attacks continued throughout the day on Wednesday and the attackers burnt the church at Chakoo Morr at 8pm.

I visited three burnt churches in the close vicinity of Essa Nagri; six in total. A small church between the UP Church and All Evangel Covenant Church was completely destroyed.
And from One India:
According to the Punjab government, over 100 people, including activists of the krazed killer group Tehrik-e-Labbaik Pakistain (TLP), have been taken into custody for attacking homes and churches of Christians over the alleged blasphemy.

A case has been registered against 600 suspects under terrorism and blasphemy charges," Punjab caretaker information minister Amir Mir said in a statement on Thursday. He said peace has been restored in the area and a heavy contingent of police and Rangers has been deployed outside churches and homes of the minority Christian community.

Mir said police foiled many attempts aimed at damaging various buildings. "The chief minister has ordered a high-level investigation into the matter and those involved in this heinous crime will not escape justice," he said. The district administration has imposed section 144 for seven days, prohibiting all kinds of assembly, except for events organised by the government in Jaranwala. All educational institutions, markets and business establishments remained closed in Jaranwala on Thursday.

Christian community leaders in Faisalabad
...formerly known as Lyallpur, the third largest metropolis in Pakistain, the second largest in Punjab after Lahore. It is named after some Arab because the Paks didn't have anybody notable of their own to name it after...
on Thursday assessed the damage to their holy places and houses in Jaranwala. A total of 21 churches have either been torched or vandalised over false accusations of blasphemy, they said, adding that copies of hundreds of Bible were set on fire.

"Twenty-one churches and 35 houses of Christians including a pastor's residence were either burnt down completely or ransacked by the mob on Wednesday," Pak Centre for Law and Justice Napoleon Qayyum told PTI on Thursday. He said although peace has been restored in the area due to the heavy deployment of police, Christians fear that Islamists might strike again.

More than 3,000 coppers and two companies of Pakistain Rangers have been deployed in Jaranwala following Wednesday's riots. "Most of the Christians left the area on Wednesday to save their lives and they will return only once action is taken against those who are involved in attacks on churches and Christian houses," Qayyum said.

He said since Shaukat Masih, a Christian, was the Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Jaranwala, some local Moslems had an issue with it. "On the pretext of blasphemy, they first moved to the AC's office to attack him. Mr Masih was lucky to escape," he said. "Had the authorities in Pakistain brought those involved in attacks on Christians and their holy places to justice in the past, the Jaranwala incident might have been averted," Qayyum said, demanding the government rein in radical TLP members who are on the forefront to target minorities in Pakistain.
Related:
Jaranwala: 2023-08-17 Armed Mobs Go On The Rampage, Burn Churches, Christian Homes In Pakistan After Blasphemy Allegations
Jaranwala: 2019-05-25 ATC hands 18-year term to lawyer for attacking judge
Jaranwala: 2019-03-01 Four booked for torture of minor maid in Faisalabad
Link


Afghanistan
Daily Evacuation Brief August 17, 2023
2023-08-17
[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
  • LARGE SCALE ANTI-CHRISTIAN RIOTS IN PAKISTAN – Angry mobs descended on a Christian church In Faisalabad and ransacked and burned it. The mob was angry after word spread that a Christian man had been accused of blasphemy for possibly burning a Quran. The mob then began attacking homes of Christians and several fires have been reported across the city. Several of the main roadways were blocked and both police and the military have responded to the situation. Unconfirmed reports that many people were injured and that ‘lynch mobs’ had been organized to find and persecute Christians are being shared on social media. The government is attempting to contain the riots in Punjab but there are fears they could spread.

  • TTP LEADER RUMORED TO HAVE BEEN TARGETED ALONG PAK-AFGHAN BORDER – Asad Afridi, a former leader of the TTP was reportedly targeted by a drone in the Gaz Dara region along the border. Afridi reportedly suffered major injuries in the attack and 2 others who were with him were said to have been killed. It is not clear who may have been behind the strike and this information has yet to be verified.

  • US SECRETARY OF STATE COMMENTS ON AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL – Antony Blinken spoke at a press conference yesterday to mark the two-year anniversary of the Afghanistan withdrawal. In his remarks, he claimed that the decision to withdraw US forces was a difficult one but was also the right decision.

  • TALIBAN BAN ON POLITICAL PARTIES NOT UNEXPECTED – The Ministry of Justice announced yesterday that all political parties are banned across the country because they are not based on Sharia law. The formal proclamation will likely add fuel to those opposed to the defacto regime and will make the process of international recognition even more remote.

  • PASSPORTS FOR AFGHANS LIVING ABROAD NOW MORE EXPENSIVE – The Passport Directorate announced it was raising the cost of a new passport from $120.00 to $220.00. The additional costs have been attributed to inflation and increased procurement costs from a new supplier.


CONFLICT TRACKER:
Takhar: NRF forces reportedly ambushed a Taliban security vehicle in Talaqan at approximately 1600hrs local. The NRF tram is said to have killed 4 Taliban and wounded 1 other in the engagement.
Kabul: Bomb blasts and gunfire were spotted in Police District 11 in Kabul on Tuesday evening. It is said that AFF units attacked a Taliban security checkpoint in Khair Khana and that 4 Taliban were possibly killed and 6 more were wounded.

NEXT 24 HOURS
POSSIBLE FURTHER ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE TODAY – After the violent demonstrations targeting Christians, their homes/businesses, and their places of worship shook Punjab Province yesterday, the government dispatched thousands of police and military personnel to try to disperse rioters and regain control of the security situation. There is a possibility the riots could spread to other cities across the country.
Related:
Asad Afridi: 2015-03-26 TTP Jamaat-ul-Ahrar announces administrative shuffle
Asad Afridi: 2007-11-29 'Militants to influence elections in FATA'
Link


India-Pakistan
Armed Mobs Go On The Rampage, Burn Churches, Christian Homes In Pakistan After Blasphemy Allegations
2023-08-17
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]

The controversy erupted after torn pages of the Koran, the holy book for Moslems, were discovered near the Christian colony with alleged blasphemous content written on them.

The pages were taken to a local religious leader, who reportedly urged Moslems to protest and demand that the culprits be arrested.

Over 100 held after several churches, homes vandalised in Jaranwala
[GEO.TV] More than 100 people have been arrested for their involvement in riots over alleged blasphemy
...the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence to a deity, or sacred objects, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable. Some religions consider it to be a crime. In Pakistain you can commit blasphemy by looking cross-eyed at a Koran...
in Faisalabad
...formerly known as Lyallpur, the third largest metropolis in Pakistain, the second largest in Punjab after Lahore. It is named after some Arab because the Paks didn't have anybody notable of their own to name it after...
’s Jaranwala during which members of the Christian community were targeted, the Punjab
1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots....

interim government’s spokesperson confirmed.

In a statement, Punjab government spokesperson said that the provincial government has also ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.

Earlier, interim Punjab Information Minister Amir Mir had said that "dozens of people who disturbed peace" in the area were detained.

In a statement, the minister said that the violence in Jaranwala was done under a "well-thought-out conspiracy".

"There was a plan to disturb the peace by inciting public sentiments. After the desecration of the Holy Koran, the angry protesters reacted strongly," Mir said, adding that the situation in Faisalabad is fully under control now.

The provincial info minister also said that the investigation into the tragic incident of the desecration of the holy book is underway at a fast pace, adding that anyone who tries to take the law into his hands would be arrested immediately.

The security of churches, he said, has been tightened and a large number of law enforcers have been deployed. More than 6,000 coppers and Rangers personnel are present in the affected areas, he added.

The minister also shared that in today's incidents, no one was injured nor was there any loss of life.

Mir went on to say that the Punjab chief secretary and Inspector General of Punjab Police have reached Jaranwala on the instructions of caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

INTERIM PM GUTTED BY JARANWALA INCIDENT
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Wednesday directed law enforcement agencies to apprehend culprits behind the vandalisation of churches in Jaranwala, Faisalabad over blasphemy allegations.

"I am gutted by the visuals coming out of Jaranwala, Faisalabad. Stern action would be taken against those who violate law and target minorities," said Kakar in a post on X, the microblogging website formerly known as Twitter.
Gutted. The poor dear.
Dawn adds:
An enraged mob vandalised multiple churches in the Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad on Wednesday over blasphemy allegations, officials said. A Christian leader, Akmal Bhatti, said the crowd had torched at least five churches and looted valuables from houses that had been abandoned by their owners after holy mans made announcements in mosques inciting the mob. Images on social media showed smoke rising from the church buildings and people setting fire to furniture that had been dragged from them.

Dozens of people also blocked a nearby highway.

Jaranwala pastor Imran Bhatti told Dawn.com that the ransacked churches included the Salvation Army Church, United Presbyterian Church, Allied Foundation Church and Shehroonwala Church situated in the Isa Nagri area. He added that the mob also demolished the house of a Christian cleaner, accused of blasphemy.

Meanwhile,
...back at the shouting match, the spittle had reached unprecedented levels...
the police registered a first information report against the accused under sections 295B (defiling, etc., of the Holy Koran) and 295C (use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of the Holy Prophet) of the Pakistain Penal Code.
The Times of Israel adds:
The attacks in Jaranwala, in the district of Faisalabad in Punjab province, erupted after some Moslems living in the area claimed they had seen a local Christian, Raja Amir, and his friend tearing out pages from a Koran, throwing them on the ground and writing insulting remarks on other pages.

Police chief Rizwan Khan said this had angered the local Moslems. A mob gathered and began attacking multiple churches and several Christian homes,

Police eventually intervened, firing into the air and wielding batons before dispersing the attackers with the help of Moslem holy mans and elders.

Police chief Bilal Mehmood told news hounds they were also looking for Amir, who went into hiding to escape the mob, and would detain him to determine whether he had desecrated the Koran.

Several coppers are seen in the videos watching the situation without intervening to stop the vandalism.

Khalid Mukhtar, a local priest, said there are 17 churches in Jaranwala and he believes most of them were attacked. The authorities did not immediately confirm that figure.

Father Gulshan Barkat, who teaches church history at the National Catholic Institute of Theology in Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
, described the blasphemy allegations as a "false accusation" and said the local mosques were also to blame because loudspeakers erected on minarets had earlier in the day called on Moslems to gather and "attack the churches and Christian community."

"The emotion of our Moslem brethren flares up very quickly, even at hearsay," he said.

None of the holy mans at Jaranwala mosques could be reached to confirm the allegation about the loudspeakers.
Related:
Faisalabad: 2023-06-24 Animals would treat my daughter better, says father of murdered Faisalabad student
Faisalabad: 2023-05-14 ‘The forever prisoner': Abu Zubaydah's drawings expose the US's depraved torture policy.
Faisalabad: 2023-05-12 Shireen Mazari arrested under Maintenance of Public Order
Related:
Jaranwala: 2019-05-25 ATC hands 18-year term to lawyer for attacking judge
Jaranwala: 2019-03-01 Four booked for torture of minor maid in Faisalabad
Jaranwala: 2018-04-04 Protests continue against 7-year-old's 'rape', murder in Jaranwala
Related:
Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar: 2023-08-13 Qureshi released from prison to 'minus Imran from PTI', claims dissident Riaz
Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar: 2016-06-21 1,100km trench built alongside Pak-Afghan border in Balochistan
Link


Britain
Animals would treat my daughter better, says father of murdered Faisalabad student
2023-06-24
[GEO.TV] A student from Faisalabad
...formerly known as Lyallpur, the third largest metropolis in Pakistain, the second largest in Punjab after Lahore. It is named after some Arab because the Paks didn't have anybody notable of their own to name it after...
has been tossed in the calaboose
Drop the heater, Studs, or you're hist'try!
for suffocating one of his female colleagues with a face mask in jealousy and then dumping her body in undergrowth inside a large suitcase.
Link


Home Front: WoT
‘The forever prisoner': Abu Zubaydah's drawings expose the US's depraved torture policy.
2023-05-14
Nota bene: the yellow highlighter belongs to comments from poster Hupainter Peacock1045, green is badanov, periwinkle is mine. Some of HP1045’s comments have been interrupted by badanov’s and/or my responses. HP1045 periodically retreads the same ground, using yet another article from a small stable of sources who can be relied upon to deliver his message.

—trailing wife
[TheGuardian] A detainee held in the US prison camp at Guantánamo Bay who was used as a human guinea pig in the CIA’s post-9/11 torture program has produced the most comprehensive and detailed account yet seen of the brutal techniques to which he was subjected.
And of course every word he utters is the utter truth — this we dare not question lest the readers of The Guardian sneer at us as nekulturny Americans.
Abu Zubaydah
... Al Qaeda recruitment and training leader as well as member of Al Qaeda’s Pakistan-based Shura consultative council — whose real name is Zayn Abdeen al Husseini and once in the Rantburg archives as Zayne Abu Zubaydah. He was arrested in Faisalabad with several others in 2002...
has created a series of 40 drawings that chronicle the torture he endured in a number of CIA dark sites between 2002 and 2006 and at Guantánamo Bay. In the absence of a full official accounting of the torture program, which the CIA and the FBI have labored for years to keep secret, the images give a unique and searing insight into a grisly period in US history.

The drawings, which Zubaydah has annotated with his own words, depict gruesome acts of violence, sexual and religious humiliation, and prolonged psychological terror committed against him and other detainees. They were sketched from memory in his Guantánamo cell and sent to one of his lawyers, Prof Mark Denbeaux.
... a Seton Hall law professor who has been a prominent lawyer for Guantanamo detainees. His big thing is how few GITMO detainees actually fought against the US, which has nothing to do with whether or not they are evil members of a terror organization attempting to conquer the world for Islam, who therefore deserve to be locked up for the duration of that war. He also does not seem to address — nor does the Guardian op-ed — how many of those thus far released from GITMO have returned to the jihad.
I'm just waiting for the deranged responses to begin. "He deserved it!"
This is black letter international law. If you appear on a battlefield, armed without a uniform, and you are captured, you are at the mercy of whichever commander detains you. You have zero rights. The commander is free to execute you on the spot, hold a trial and execute on the spot, or interrogate you.
Not just on the battlefield — spies and saboteurs have the exact same zero rights. Being a law-abiding society is not intended to be a suicide pact, no matter how uncharmingly self-righteous The Guardian waxes in its determined ignorance.
Isn't America supposed to be the good guys? Torture is clearly evil. And who's doing it? The CIA and FBI? The deep state, hello?

The field agents and operatives in the CIA have a commission to capture battlefield illegal combatants and to extract as much information from them as possible by which ever means. Whether that means bribing the prisoner with hookers and blow, or enhanced interrogation techniques, that commission doesn't change.
Zubaydah’s sketches provide a unique visual record of the US government’s use of torture in the wake of 9/11. Videotapes of Zubaydah being tortured were filmed by the CIA but then destroyed in violation of a court order, while a 6,700-page torture report by the Senate intelligence committee remains secret almost a decade after it was completed.
Because when the CIA destroys evidence under subpoena, that's a sure sign that they're not afraid of what it will show.

Now we're going to chant, "Torture might be evil but it saved lives." Bullshit.

Torture is chancy — some will lie to stop the pain. But intelligent interrogation applying psychological and psychiatric discoveries can prove very useful indeed.
Though the full Senate report has never been made public, its conclusion is known: that the abuse of Zubaydah and other detainees failed to elicit any new intelligence. In other words, torture does not work.

Zubaydah, 52, was captured in Pakistan in March 2002 and renditioned to several CIA dark sites in Poland, Lithuania and elsewhere. He was the first victim of what was to become the widespread use of torture by the US against terror suspects.

He was transferred to Guantánamo in 2006, where he has been held ever since.

The US initially claimed he was a top al-Qaida operative but was forced to concede he was not even a member of the terror group. "Everybody agrees, they tortured the wrong guy; they went ahead anyway so they could get permission to torture other people," Denbeaux said.
And now they've got it. Just like all the other weapons they built, this will now be used on us, the American people.
You’ve been nuked lately, Hupainter Peacock1045? Because I haven’t, nor has anyone shot a missile at me, nor even a basic scary black rifle. Possibly someone has bugged my phone, tracked my GPS, or explored my iPad, in which case they’ve wasted a great deal of time better spent on more interesting targets, but I’ve not seen evidence even of that. In short, your histrionics are not persuasive.
Related:
Abu Zubaydah: 2022-04-03 US says it repatriated a Guantanamo Bay detainee to Algeria
Abu Zubaydah: 2021-04-05 US shuts once-secret Guantanamo prison unit, moves prisoners
Abu Zubaydah: 2020-10-21 Did the U.S. Government Hide bin Laden In Iran? Alleged Whistleblower Releases Evidence to Make His Claim
Related:
Zayn Abdeen al Husseini: 2022-04-03 US says it repatriated a Guantanamo Bay detainee to Algeria
Zayn Abdeen al Husseini: 2009-09-25 Algerian seized with Abu Zubaydah loses habeas case
Related:
Mark Denbeaux: 2017-05-21 Abu Zubaidah won’t testify
Mark Denbeaux: 2009-01-13 Obama plan to close Guantanamo may take a year
Mark Denbeaux: 2007-05-15 Ever wonder what ex gitmo inmates do to cope with unfair incarceration?
Related:
Zayne Abu Zubaydah: 2017-05-21 Abu Zubaidah won’t testify
Link


India-Pakistan
Shireen Mazari arrested under Maintenance of Public Order
2023-05-12
[GEO.TV] The police crackdown on Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
(PTI) leaders shows no signs of slowing down, as PTI Senior Vice President Dr Shireen Mazari was arrested in a pre-dawn raid at her residence in the federal capital on Friday.

According to officials, the Islamabad police raided her house during the early hours of Friday. Her arrest comes after a series of arrests of multiple other PTI leaders, including Imran Khan
...aka The Great Khan, who who convinced himself that playing cricket qualified him to lead a nuclear-armed nation with severe personality disorders...
, Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry, Shah Mehmood Wormtongue Qureshi
...a Pak political shape-changer. He is undistinguished except for his habit of periodically needing to have his lips reattached...
, Ali Mohammad Khan, and Senator Ejaz Chaudhry.

All of these leaders were arrested under section three of the Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO).

In a major legal victory for PTI, Chairman Imran Khan's arrest in the al-Qadir Trust case has been declared "illegal" by the Supreme Court on May 11, and authorities have been instructed to release him "immediately".

The apex court has sent the PTI chief to the Police Lines Guest House, allowing him to spend the night with his family.

The court has also ordered Imran Khan to appear before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by tomorrow, which is the same court that previously declared his arrest to be legal.

It is important to note that the court has set a precedent that no person shall be arrested within the premises of a court.

Related:
Shireen Mazari: 2023-02-19 Gen Bajwa wanted TTP families ‘resettled’ in Pakistan, claims Mazari
Shireen Mazari: 2022-05-25 Day 2: State flexes its muscles to curb PTI power show
Shireen Mazari: 2022-05-24 Pakistani govt hands over security of Red Zone, Islamabad to Pakistan Army.
Related:
Islamabad police: 2023-05-02 3 terrorists killed during intelligence-based operations in KP: ISPR
Islamabad police: 2023-03-25 Islamabad police arrest Imran's nephew Jared Hassan, 200 others for causing chaos, arson
Islamabad police: 2023-03-09 Rumor: arrest of Imran Khan is now imminent
Related:
Fawad Chaudhry: 2023-05-05 Bushra Bibi serves legal notice to Maryam for defamation
Fawad Chaudhry: 2023-01-28 Ally of former Pakistani PM Imran Khan jailed ahead of trial
Fawad Chaudhry: 2022-11-04 Imran Khan suspects PM Shehbaz, Sanaullah, senior army officer behind attack: Asad Umar
Related:
Asad Umar: 2023-03-20 Terror case registered against PTI workers for vandalism at judicial complex
Asad Umar: 2023-01-28 Ally of former Pakistani PM Imran Khan jailed ahead of trial
Asad Umar: 2022-11-04 Imran Khan suspects PM Shehbaz, Sanaullah, senior army officer behind attack: Asad Umar
Related:
Ejaz Chaudhry: 2014-07-14 'Long march' will overcome all hurdles: PTI
Ejaz Chaudhry: 2014-05-25 PTI workers being scared off rally in Faisalabad, says Ejaz
Ejaz Chaudhry: 2014-02-26 PTI ready to back army action
Link



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