Pakistan Displaced minorities return to Swat Valley

(August 8, 2009) Christian and Sikh families have started returning to the Swat Valley and surrounding areas following their displacement during military operations against Taliban militants. The federal government announced the start of the repatriation process on July 13 following the three-month offensive against the Taliban in North West Frontier Province. The military claims that more than 1,800 militants and 166 security personnel died in the operation. Security forces are still conducting search operations in the northern tribal areas. According to Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, 177,610 out of the 329,792 registered families displaced from Malakand division have returned home. The refugees also include Christian and Sikh families who were ordered by the army to leave their homes. The Church of Pakistan has been running three camps for about 600 displaced families in Mardan and Peshawar using two churches and a technical centre. About 350 of these families have returned home since the repatriation process began. People expressed their happiness to leave for their homes for which they have been longing for over three months. The money the government had given as compensation to displaced families might last for a few months during which they said would keep searching for jobs. According to Caritas Pakistan's Disaster Management Department, the organization has distributed tents, mattresses, pillows, bed sheets and fans to those displaced.
International Christian Concern to visit Pakistan President: The International Christian Concern (ICC) has plans to visit Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari asking him to initiate legal measures against the Muslims who attacked their neighbourhood Christians. The attack unleashed on July 31 and August 1 had left at least eight Christians dead and over 100 homes burnt. According to reports the attack occurred when some of the Muslims in the locality called for the death of Talib who they say had desecrated Quran and blasphemed. The ICC is prepared to ask the Pakistan President to defend the religious freedom of the country by initiating adequate measures to prosecute the culprits causing death and arson. The mob attacked the residence of the Bishop of the Church of Pakistan. Three churches were also destroyed. Calling on the attention of the international community on the issue the ICC sources points out that about 35 Christians were critically injured, and 45 women and children were missing after the attack.