Don’t miss the latest developments in business and finance.

Pak Christians fear more persecution in coming days

Image
ANI Islamabad
Last Updated : Sep 24 2013 | 1:20 PM IST

Pakistan's Christian minority is scared of more persecution following the Sunday attack that killed over 85 churchgoers in Peshawar.

The tiny Christian minority represents only about 2 percent of the predominantly Muslim population of 190 million in Pakistan, the Daily Times reports.

The attack came just two weeks after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif presided over the All-Parties Conference to discuss his government's policies on countering the militants.

Sharif's regime received consensus from all major political parties to open fresh peace talks with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

However, last week's killings of Major General Sanaullah Niazi and two other military officials in a road bomb in Khyber Pukhtawa province, and Sunday's attack in Peshawar church, have delivered a clear message from the Taliban that they want to continue the fight.

Some critics said that Sharif's peace initiative is going to fail, while others warned he risks a dangerous resurgence in militancy, if he closes the door on negotiations.

A Christian priest in Lahore said the law of blasphemy has often been used in Pakistan to target Christians.

Also Read

First Published: Sep 24 2013 | 1:12 PM IST

Next Story