Pakistan under pressure to repeal blasphemy laws

In Pakistan, a lack of economic opportunities and education contribute to the dark industry of kidnapping people into servitude. Mohammad Arif was abducted and forced to work in quarries for more than two decades before making a daring escape.

Around two hundred Afghan refugees who fled their country before the Taliban took control gather at the Pakistan border with Afghanistan as they wait to follow the required procedures to be allowed to cross. “We emigrated from Afghanistan during bombing and hardships, when Muslims were in trouble,” says Molavi Shaib. “Now, praise be to Allah, the situation is normal, so we are returning.”

Afghans cross into Pakistan at the Chaman border crossing as thousands desperately try to flee following the Taliban takeover. Amjad says he left because he had no work once the Taliban took over, and couldn’t “even earn money to feed our children”.

Heavy police presence was visible in Quetta on Sunday after a suicide bomb attack took place, targeting a Frontier Corps (FC) check post killing four personnel and injuring 20. The attack took place on Sunday in Quetta, Pakistan near the Afghanistan border. Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP). The targeted group, the Frontier Corps are an anti-terrorism unit stationed along the Pak-Afghan border Prime minister Imran Khan, condemned the attack and offered his condolences to the families of those killed in the attack in a tweet. “Condemn the TTP suicide attack on FC checkpost, Mastung road, Quetta. My condolences go to the families of the martyrs & prayers for the recovery of the injured. Salute our security forces & their sacrifices to keep us safe by thwarting foreign-backed terrorists' designs,” read the tweet.

In a startling suicide attack being reported from Pakistan, the perpetrator allegedly drove a motorcycle into a security agency's vehicle. The incident occurred in Quetta, near the Afghanistan border. At least 3 security personnel were killed while around 20 people were injured, as per reports. Pakistani news outlets said the Balochistan Counter-Terrorism Department was at the spot to investigate.

Critics say a plan to consolidate media regulatory agencies will further shrink press freedom in the country. Journalists and opposition parties have decried the law as "draconian" and unconstitutional.

Germany's ambassador to Pakistan said the South Asian nation would play a supportive role in the future of Afghan peace and prosperity and thanked Islamabad for helping Germany evacuate Afghans across its border.

Pakistan's schools have been heavily hit by the pandemic. Students have experienced several school closures, and experts speculate that such a loss could have impacts for years to come.

Several officials surrounding Prime Minister Imran Khan were named, but experts are skeptical of the possibility of a thorough investigation.

Aftermath scenes in Pakistan's Harnai town after a shallow earthquake hit the country's southwest in the early hours of Thursday. The tremor left at least 20 people dead and dozens injured as of Thursday afternoon.

Two videos circulating online in India claim to show different scenes of Muslims praying in the street. In the first case, the FRANCE 24 Observers were able to determine that the video took place in Turkey. In another video, the scene is clearly in a Paris suburb, not anywhere in the UK.

Pakistan is setting up a new religious body as part of efforts to push for an "Islamic welfare state." But activists warn that the new authority could jeopardize the lives of women and religious minorities.