Pakistan

by Shafique Khokhar | PAKISTAN

Celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the archdiocese ended with a solemn Eucharistic celebration led by the apostolic nuncio. Archbishop Travas highlighted three challenges: following Jesus, the Synodal journey, and serving the poor and the vulnerable. He also called for greater responsibility for the laity (especially women) in the life of the Church.


After months of clashes with the judiciary, most notably over the imprisonment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the government led by Shehbaz Sharif has approved a constitutional amendment empowering a parliamentary committee with appointing the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, hitherto chosen based on seniority. For experts, this is a new attempt to limit the powers to which the opposition can turn to.

| 23/10/2024
| PAKISTAN
by Shafique Khokhar

Initiated by Archbishop Joseph Arshad, the diocesan tournament is now in its fifth year, involving 14 teams from the various parishes. A sign of the attention paid to young people in the conviction that sport can also help minorities emerge from the margins of Pakistani society.

| 18/10/2024
| PAKISTAN
by Shafique Khokhar

Accused of throwing away waste paper with sacred inscriptions, a fact they denied. The lawyer speaks of bad intentions towards the women, one of whom is also a widow. Activist Joseph Jansen: ‘This abuse of the laws must stop before more innocent lives are lost’.

| 14/10/2024
| PAKISTAN
by Shafique Khokhar

At least 21 victims - mostly Pashtuns - in a terrorist assault on the homes of workers in one of the economic activities seen as a symbol of Islamabad's control over local resources. Local activists to AsiaNews: ‘People are angry, we need real initiatives for dialogue with the Baluchis. But terrorism only aggravates the problems’.

| 12/10/2024
| PAKISTAN
by Shafique Khokhar

Launched by the Hope for Light association, it is a dream that began in the 1990s but never realised. It is seen as a point of reference but also an open space for the contributions of young readers. “I humbly appeal to all the Sunday Schools of all denominations to ensure all children have access to Baily,” said the Anglican bishop of Peshawar, the Rt Rev Humphrey Peters.

| 10/10/2024
| PAKISTAN

Fighters of the Belucistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack in which three people died, two of whom were Chinese citizens. Yesterday, the government also banned a Pashtun organisation, an ethnic group, like the Beluchis, marginalised and abused by the army because of its proximity to the Taliban. There are growing protests from those calling for the release of former premier Imran Khan.

| 08/10/2024
| PAKISTAN - CHINA
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“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”