Whilst Pakistan is in the spotlight for its mediation in the Gulf, the crackdown on civil society continues unabated. A group of activists were detained for several hours; they were due to hold a press conference on an initiative scheduled for 10 May for which they have not yet received permits. Human Rights Commission: “This is not an isolated incident, but a recurring pattern.”
The church organisation set up such centres in St. Michael's Parish. An estimated 400 to 500 out-of-school students between the ages of 6 and 14 are not going to school in the area. Among the causes are poverty, child labour, and climate change. For Father Nobert Nazir, they are “a sign of hope. Education is not a privilege”.
The work affects the property of the historic St. Mark's Church, founded in 1882. For its pastor, Rev Din, three times more land has been taken without the church’s consent. Protesters are calling on Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to act. The protest reflects minority concerns over land rights and the protection of religious property.
According to the latest report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, global military spending reached US$ 2.887 trillion in 2025, marking the eleventh consecutive year of growth. In Asia, growth is driven by China, Japan, India, and Taiwan, due to strategic rivalries and uncertainty over the role of the United States. In the Middle East, Israeli spending was down, but Turkey’s and Saudi Arabia’s were up.
Parts of the place of worship have been vandalised, causing fear among residents of the Fateh Chowk district. Members of the community organised a demonstration, blocking traffic and chanting slogans in support of religious freedom. The details of the attack and the identity of those responsible remain unclear. The police intervention, and the promise to punish those responsible, has restored calm.
Even Afghans with valid papers are affected by warrantless arrests and deportations, Human Rights Watch reports. Women and children are hiding to avoid repatriation, while journalists, activists, and former officials with the previous government fear persecution by the Taliban. More than a thousand Afghans are in a precarious situation stranded in Qatar, with the United States seeking to send to Congo.
