On 6 May 1998 Bishop John Joseph, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Faisalabad, committed suicide in protest of the 27 April 1998 Faisalabad court death sentence of Ayub Masih, a Christian, for blasphemy (VOA 15 May 1998; Dawn 12 May 1998a; HRW 1998). According to HRW, it was "widely believed that Masih's accusers hoped to drive the Christian family from their village and gain control over the family's land" (ibid.). On 10 May 1998 the funeral for Bishop John Joseph was held, during which a mob of 500 "Muslim extremists" burned and destroyed homes and shops in a Christian neighbourhood of Faisalabad (The Hindu 11 May 1998; AP 10 May 1998). Some Christians were teargassed by police (ibid.; The Hindu 11 May 1998), and according to the Chennai/Madras-based daily The Hindu, alleged that law enforcing authorities had turned a blind eye to the attack by Muslim extremists on their homes (11 May 1998). Some Christians reportedly also attacked police for not responding quickly enough to the violence (ibid.; AP 10 May 1998). As a result of Joseph's protest suicide, the Christian community declared 15 May 1998 a day of protest (VOA 15 May 1998), a day for the Christian community to show their unity, demand Ayub's release and pressure the government to repeal the Blasphemy Laws by going on strike, either for that day alone or indefinitely, in the case of those employees working at all corporations an cantonment boards (Dawn 12 May 1998a; Dawn 12 May 1998b). In the days following Joseph's suicide, the Christian community held a number of rallies in Lahore, Hyderabad, and Rawalpindi (Dawn 12 May 1998a; ibid. 12 May 1998b). According to VOA, news agencies reported clashes between the police and Christian demonstrators in Lahore, Faisalabad and Sheikhupura in Punjab province, resulting in injuries (15 May 1998). VOA reported that, according to AFP, over 300 demonstrators were arrested during these clashes (ibid.).

On 27 May 1998 a conference that brought together 18 Christian and Muslim religious leaders of all denominations was held in Islamabad to work toward creating unity between the religious communities (Dawn 28 May 1998). Mr. J.A. Salik, organizer of the Muslim-Christian Unity Pakistan and a former MNA, and Mr. Muhammad Ali Wasti, President of the Markazi Milad Committee, organized the conference (ibid.).

Églises d'Asie (EDA) reported that on 9 November 1998 a number of important Christian and Muslim religious leaders came together in Lahore for a round-table, organized by the Muslims, and resulted in the creation of the "Forum for Christian-Muslim Dialogue" whose purpose is to create a climate of tolerance between Muslims and Christians (1 Dec. 1998a, 14-15). One of the approved resolutions was that a unique electoral system be established to replace the one presently in place that divides the electorate along religious lines (EDA ibid.). The participants strongly rejected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's constitutional amendment that would place the entire population, including religious minorities, under the authority of the Shari'a (ibid.). At the time of the round-table, this amendment had already been adopted by the National Assembly but was awaiting Senate approval (ibid.).

In mid-November 1998 nine members of a Christian family in Nowshera contonment, NWFP, were killed by unidentified killers, possibly because the family head practised "spiritual healing" (The News International 19 Nov. 1998; EDA 1 Dec. 1998b, 15), and therefore, not necessarily because they were Christian. Dawn reported the same incident but did not mention the victims were Christian (19 Nov. 1998). According to the Dawn, police were trying to establish whether the killings were a result of a feud or linked to terrorism (ibid.).

On the night of 22 December 1998 a bomb exploded in St. Patrick Cathedral (capable of holding up to 3,000 people) in Karachi, causing only light injuries to one of the hundred or so present (EDA 1 Jan. 1999, 10). According to Églises d'Asie, tens of thousands of Christians celebrated Christmas throughout the country with no incidents of violence being reported (ibid.). In many cities, police had reportedly organized impressive services to protect the access to churches (ibid.). In Karachi, fire trucks and ambulances also reportedly had security detail around the Cathedral, reportedly put in place by the authorities (ibid., 10-11).

In mid-January 1999 Christians held demonstrations in Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi to protest the "wanton" violence perpetrated against Christians in Gujrat state, India, by Hindu extremists (Dawn 11 Jan. 1999). Dawn did not report any violence against the demonstrators.

In late March/early April 1999 Catholics, the Presbyterian Church and the Church of Pakistan, composed of five Protestant churches, organized special week-long Easter festivities in Lahore and throughout the country (Dawn 3 Apr. 1999). Dawn did not report any violence during these festivities.

On 3 April 1999 the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) of Rawalpindi distributed Easter gift packages containing a bag of wheat flour, ghee, sugar, cloth and vermicelli to 150 Christians in Adra, Octroi No. 22 in Rawalpindi (Dawn 4 Apr. 1999). The commissioner also stated that the Punjab government would distribute 500 food stamp cards to needy Christians in Rawalpindi district on the eve of Easter (ibid.).

No information, other than that provided above, could be found on whether the police respond to Christian complaints of violence at the hands of Muslims.

Please consult Country Reports 1998 for general information on the situation of Christians in Pakistan.

Please find attached the section on Christians from the State of Human Rights in 1997 by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

The Associated Press (AP). 10 May 1998. "Christians and Muslims Clash as Priest is Buried." [Internet] http://interactive.cfra.com [Accessed 14 Apr. 1999]

Dawn [Karachi]. 4 April 1999. "Food Stamp Scheme for Christians Launched." [Internet] http://www.dawn.com [Accessed 6 Apr. 1999]

_____. 3 April 1999. "Lahore: Easter Ceremonies Gail Momentum." [Internet] http://www.dawn.com [Accessed 6 Apr. 1999]

_____. 11 January 1999. "Christians Hold Protest Rallies Throughout the Country." [Internet] http://www.dawn.com [Accessed 11 Jan. 1999]

_____> 19 November 1998. "Nine Members of a Family Slaughtered." [Internet] http://www.dawn.com [Accessed 19 Nov. 1998]

_____. 28 May 1998. "Joint Meeting Calls for Unity Among Muslims and Christians." [Internet] http://www.dawn.com [Accessed 28 May 1998]

_____. 12 May 1998a. "Christians Hold Protest Rally." [Internet] http://www.dawn.com [Accessed 12 May 1998]

_____. 12 May 1998b. "Christian worker of RCB to Observe Indefinite Strike." [Internet] http://www.dawn.com> [Accessed 12 May 1998]

Églises d'Asie (EDA) [Paris]. 1 January 1999. No. 278. "Pakistan: Karachi: Une bombe a explosé dans la cathédrale catholique sans faire de victimes."

_____. 1 December 1998a. No. 276. "Pakistan: Les participants d'une table ronde fondent un forum de dialogue chrétien-musulman."

_____. 1 December 1998b. No. 276. "Pakistan: Neuf chrétiens ont été égorgés dans la province de la frontière du nord-ouest."

The Hindu [Chennai/Madras]. 11 May 1998. Amit Baruah. "Christian Mourners Targeted in Pak." [Internet] http://www.webpage.com/hindu [Accessed 11 May 1998]

Human Rights Watch (HRW). 1998. Human Rights Watch World Report 1999. New York: HRW.

The News International [Karachi]. 19 November 1998. "Nine of a Christian Family Slaughtered." [Internet] http://199.173.88.205/thnews [Accessed 19 Nov. 1998]

Voice of America (VOA). 15 May 1998. Sarah Horner. "PAK Christians." [Internet] gopher://gopher.voa.gov. [Accessed 15 May 1998]

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Lahore. February 1998. State of Human Rights in 1997. Lahore: HRCP, pp. 141-143.

Amnesty International Report 1998. 1998.

Asian Survey [Berkeley, Calif.]. Monthly. January 1997-November 1998.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1998. 26 February 1999.

Current History [Philadelphia]. Monthly. January 1997-March 1999.

Dawn Weekly Service (DWS) [Karachi]. Weekly. January 1998-March 1998.

Églises d'Asie [Paris]. Fortnightly. 1 September 1998-16 March 1999.

The Herald [Karachi]. Monthly. January 1998-March 1999.

HRCP Newsletter [Lahore]. Quarterly. April 1998, July 1998.
Immigration and Naturalization Directorate, Home Office, London. November 1998.

Pakistan: Country Assessment.

International Christian Concern Website.

Jane's Intelligence Review [Surrey]. Monthly. January 1997-January 1999.
Jilani, Hina. 1998.

Human Rights and Democratic Development in Pakistan

Persecution of Christians in Pakistan Website.

Electronic sources: Internet, IRB Databases.