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Honor Without Justice: The Enduring Tragedy of Honor Killings in Pakistan
The continued use of “honor” as a justification for killing women in Pakistan reflects a disturbing contradiction between law and reality. While legal reforms have attempted to curb such crimes, the persistence of these killings reveals a deeper crisis—one rooted in social norms, power structures, and weak enforcement of justice. According
Pakistan’s Hidden Crisis: Over 3,000 Gender-Based Violence Cases in Just Six Months
Pakistan is not just facing a rise in gender-based violence—it is witnessing a quiet emergency unfolding behind closed doors. In the first six months of 2026 alone, at least 3,172 cases were reported. That number is difficult to absorb, but what it represents is even harder: thousands of individuals harmed, silenced,
Child Protection on Trial: Will Pakistan’s Top Court Legitimize a Child’s Abuse or Restore Maria Shahbaz’s Right to Safety?
Pakistan stands at a moral crossroads as the Federal Constitutional Court prepares to hear the review petition in the case of 13‑year‑old Maria Shahbaz on July 24. At its heart, this is not only a legal battle over custody — it is a test of whether the country’s highest court will
Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws: A System Undermined by Fear, Misuse, and Institutional Failure
Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have become one of the country’s most controversial issues, not only because of their impact on religious minorities but also because of the repeated failure of institutions to prevent their misuse. A law that should operate within the boundaries of justice and fairness has, in many cases, become
Pakistan Cashes In On EU Trade Perks, While Its Religious Minorities Pay the Price
Pakistan is cashing in on the EU’s GSP+ trade concessions while it fails to honour the core human rights and governance obligations that justify those benefits. Atrocities, discrimination and violence continue at home, yet Pakistan still presents itself as a compliant partner on paper. Since 2014, Pakistan has relied on the
Targeted Killings of Christian Minorities in Balochistan Spark Renewed Calls for Protection and Justice
The killings of two young Christian men in Balochistan are not just another tragic headline—they are a stark reminder of how fragile life remains for religious minorities in Pakistan. Ayush Masih, 21, and Domnik Masih, 24, were shot dead by gunmen on motorcycles in Mastung. The attack happened in the Shamsabad
Justice Denied in Flames: Pakistan’s Failure to Protect Its Christian Minorities
Twelve years after one of Pakistan’s most brutal cases of mob violence, justice has not just been delayed—it has collapsed. The Supreme Court’s acquittal of the last three men convicted in the 2014 lynching of the Christian couple, Shahzad Masih and his pregnant wife, Shama Bibi, has reignited grief and raised
From Worship to Ashes: Pattoki Christian Family Loses Home in Alleged Revenge Arson
In Pattoki, Punjab, a Christian family has been reduced to homelessness in a deliberate arson attack that raises urgent questions about justice, protection, and equality in Pakistan. On 5 July 2026, Arshad Masih (34), his wife Kafia Bibi (33), and their two young sons, Haniyal (8) and Abraham (5), were attending
EU Parliament Spotlight: Victims Break Silence on Pakistan’s Forced Conversions and Child Marriages
The European Parliament recently held an important event to highlight a painful and often ignored issue: the abduction, forced conversion, and child marriage of minority girls in Pakistan. What should have been a routine policy meeting turned into an emotional call for justice. Victims’ families shared their stories, and for the
When Accusation Becomes Punishment: The Growing Crisis of Blasphemy Cases in Pakistan
The registration of 333 blasphemy cases across Pakistan in the last five years is not just another statistic—it points to a deeper and more troubling reality. It shows how law, religion, and personal disputes have become dangerously mixed, creating a system that is open to misuse. Punjab reports the highest number
Framed by Faith: How Blasphemy Accusations Are Weaponized in Pakistan
On July 9, a dangerous pattern repeated itself in Karachi. A desecrated page of the Quran was mailed to a shop, along with photos of a Christian man, Azeem Javaid, and his mother. Angry crowds gathered almost immediately. Stones were thrown at police. Christian families were trapped in their homes. Authorities
European Parliament Condemns Pakistan’s Failure to Protect Minority Girls
The European Parliament’s condemnation of forced conversions and child marriages in Pakistan deserves recognition. At a time when many choose silence, this resolution sends a clear message: the suffering of vulnerable children cannot be ignored. For families like that of 13-year-old Maria Shahbaz, this international attention offers a rare sense of
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Special Cases
Easter Terror in Pakistan: A Christian Woman’s Refusal to Convert Leads to Threats and Fear
On a day meant for joy and redemption, Easter Sunday turned into one of terror for a Christian family in Pakistan. The hymns and prayers were still echoing through the village air when police arrested a Muslim man accused of threatening to kill a young Christian woman if she refused to
Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court Upholds Marriage of Minor Christian Girl: A Dangerous Precedent
The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) of Pakistan has sparked outrage by upholding the marriage of 13-year-old Christian girl Maria Shahbaz to 30-year-old Muslim man Shehryar Ahmad, accused of abducting and forcibly converting her. The ruling, issued on March 25, 2026, has alarmed human rights defenders, minority advocates, and legal experts, who
The Forced Islamization of Pakistan’s religious minorities
Sonja Dahlmans Introduction Every year, between approximately 1,000 and 2,000 minor girls from Pakistan’s religious minority communities are abducted, forcibly married (to a Muslim man), and forced to convert to Islam. The OHCHR expressed its concern regarding the vulnerability of minor girls from non-Muslim families in 2024, stating that: “The exposure
A Cry for Justice Silenced: Islamabad High Court Halts Inquiry into Misuse of Blasphemy Law
In a country where a mere whisper of blasphemy can turn into a roar of public fury, last Thursday’s decision by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has cast a heavy shadow over hopes for accountability and reform. The court suspended its bold step toward justice—a decision that had dared to question
When the State Decides Your Faith: The Persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan
In Pakistan, the situation of the Ahmadiyya community is often described by human rights observers as one of the most restrictive religious frameworks in the modern world. At the centre of it lies something unusual and deeply consequential: laws that not only regulate behaviour, but also decide who is legally recognised
Recorded, Not Protected: Islamabad’s Alarming Zero-Conviction Crisis on Violence Against Women (Jan–Jun 2025)
In Islamabad, the numbers do not lie—they accuse. Between January and June 2025, 373 cases of violence against women were reported in the federal capital. Not a single one resulted in a conviction. Not for rape. Not for kidnapping. Not for physical abuse. Not for harassment, cybercrime, or even honour killings.
Bound by Fear: Exploitation of Christian Women Domestic Workers in Pakistan
In a narrow street of Shahdara, Lahore, the cry of a mother cuts through the ordinary hum of life — a cry for a daughter lost not to death, but to confinement and cruelty. Eighteen-year-old Saniya, a Christian domestic worker, was allegedly held captive in her employer’s home for eight long
When Justice Sleeps: The Vanishing of a Christian Girl in Pakistan
In the quiet, dusty lanes of Handaal village near Kot Radha Kishan, grief has found a home in the heart of one Christian family. Faqeer Masih, a humble brick kiln worker, spends his days searching for answers—clinging to hope and prayer as his 16-year-old daughter, Neha Bibi, remains lost to him.
Honor Without Justice: The Enduring Tragedy of Honor Killings in Pakistan
The continued use of “honor” as a justification for killing women in Pakistan reflects a disturbing contradiction between law and reality. While legal reforms have attempted to curb such crimes, the persistence of these killings reveals a deeper crisis—one rooted in social norms, power structures, and weak enforcement of justice. According