(Compass Direct News) – A Muslim who allegedly confessed to sexually assaulting five Christian girls raped a 10-year-old Catholic girl in Punjab Province last month, according to her family.

Tarkhani police have charged 25-year-old Muhammad Aftab, also known as Chandu, with raping a minor (section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code) in a sugar cane field in Village 226-GB, according to First Information Report (FIR) No. 429 at the Tarkhani Police Station. Aftab has been arrested and remanded to Central Jail Faisalabad.

Aftab allegedly raped the girl on Dec. 10, Abid Masih, a 31-year-old relative of the girl, told Compass in village 226-GB, Tarkhani near Gojra. more >>

The governor of Pakistan's Punjab province was assassinated Tuesday by his bodyguard.

Salman Taseer was one of the most vocal advocates for Asia Bibi, a Christian mother sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy, and an opponent of the country's blasphemy laws.

He was shot dead while walking through an Islamabad market by a bodyguard who opposed the governor's position. more >>

Islamic protests have erupted in Pakistan over possible changes to the nation’s notorious blasphemy laws.

Sunni Muslim clerics organized a 24-hour strike across Pakistan on Friday against amending blasphemy laws that are currently being used to sentence Christian Asia Bibi to death.

The protests were staged in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Pershawar and Quetta after their Friday prayers. The government of the largely Muslim country has since backed off efforts to soften the laws in response to the protest. more >>

Christians in Pakistan plan to rally on Christmas Day for the abolishment of the highly debated blasphemy law.

Many Christians have been arrested and imprisoned under the controversial law in order to settle personal disputes, but it is Christian mother Asia Bibi’s case that has drawn international attention from world leaders and numerous human rights groups.

Leaders from the All Christian Parties Conference will march from the Lahore Press Club to the Punjab Assembly Building, calling for a revision of legislation that they argue discriminates against the country’s minority groups. more >>

Christians should not forget about Asia Bibi – the first woman to be sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy in Pakistan – as the country’s high court decides on a date for her appeals hearing, said a ministry that advocates on behalf of persecuted Christians.

Bibi’s case should not be swept under the rug and forgotten but Christians “must pray and advocate” on behalf of the innocent woman, said Carl Moeller, president and CEO of Open Doors USA, in a statement Monday.

“We continue to stand with Christians in Pakistan. We continue to help them face the incredible pressure – the almost unimaginable pressure – they are under every day, by spiritual means, by encouragement and through advocacy, speaking out on their behalf,” said Moeller. more >>

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti condemned Saturday the recent announcement of a reward for killing the jailed Christian woman on death row for blasphemy.

Bhatti said the call is unjust and irresponsible and should be discouraged in the strongest possible manner because no one has the right to issue a decree to kill someone else, according to Pakistan’s Daily Times newspaper. He also added that Pakistan is a civilized country and violation of the rule of law is not allowed.

“Every legal and constitutional means will be adopted in the Asia Bibi case,” assured Bhatti, who was in charge of investigating the case and reported that Bibi was innocent to President Asif Ali Zadari. more >>