A. S. John

Pakistan Correspondent

Articles by A. S. John

2 Dec, 2025 16:29 EST

Asia Society & Culture

Landmark petition seeks protection for Pakistan’s mostly Christian sanitation workers

By A. S. John

The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) has filed a landmark constitutional petition before the newly established Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), seeking an end to manual sewer cleaning – a practice that has claimed the lives of dozens of Christian and other sanitation workers over the years.
24 Nov, 2025 21:15 EST

Asia Society & Culture

Roma Riaz, first Pakistani Christian at Miss Universe, slams colorist and body-shaming trolls

By A. S. John

Roma Riaz is used to being the “first,” but not to the kind of attention she received in the weeks leading up to the recent Miss Universe pageant held on Nov. 21. As the first Pakistani Christian to compete in the contest, the 27-year-old found herself at the center of an intense online debate.
11 Jul, 2025 10:54 EDT

Asia Society & Culture

Pakistan launches special program to integrate religious minorities in civil service

By A. S. John

In a landmark move to foster inclusivity and ensure equitable representation within the public sector, the Pakistan government has launched a transformative initiative aimed at integrating minority communities, including Christians, more actively into the country’s civil service.
12 May, 2025 08:08 EDT

Asia Family & Children Education Society & Culture

Study finds Pakistani textbooks promote religious bias through excessive Islamic content, marginalize minorities

By A. S. John

A review of school textbooks in Pakistan has found that problematic content remains embedded in the curriculum, contributing to the exclusion of religious minorities from the country’s social mainstream and national narrative. A study titled What Are We Teaching at School? by the Lahore-based research and advocacy organization Center for Social Justice (CSJ) reviewed 145 textbooks of compulsory subjects for Grades 1 through 10.
18 Feb, 2025 05:15 EST

US & Canada Society & Culture

Pakistan’s faith-based organizations among those hit by US funding freeze

By A. S. John

Yasir Talib was writing a project report at his office in Lahore on Jan. 27 when he received disturbing news: the research and advocacy organization where he worked would not renew his contract due to a funding freeze announced by the Trump administration. Talib, project coordinator of the Minority Leadership Development (MLD) initiative at the Lahore-based Center for Social Justice (CSJ), which was financially supported by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), was among 10 employees laid
28 Jan, 2025 08:56 EST

Asia Church & Missions

Renewed tensions between regional and national leadership put unity of Church of Pakistan at risk

By A. S. John

Reports of a recent dispute in the Church of Pakistan (CoP) about a regional bishop’s authority to appoint a successor without the involvement of the national leadership has revealed serious tensions that once again tear at the unity of the largest Protestant denomination in the country.
10 Jan, 2025 08:13 EST

Asia Church & Missions Education

Rocked by revelations of corruption and misgovernance, Pakistan's oldest seminary removes chairman

By A. S. John

The chairman of the Board of Directors of Pakistan’s oldest seminary has been removed from his position over allegations of financial corruption and gross irregularities in a building project, and alleged illegal and unconstitutional actions that have damaged the operations of the institution once known as the cornerstone of theological education in the subcontinent, Christian Daily International has learnt.
23 Dec, 2024 10:20 EST

Asia Society & Culture

‘Failure motivated me to keep going’, says only Christian girl to pass Pakistan special federal exam

By A. S. John

This Christmas has brought extraordinary joy to the family of Azam Mairaj as his daughter is the only female among five Christians who have cleared a competitive written examination especially conducted to fill 104 vacant positions in the federal government to fulfill the five percent minority quota. The 26-year-old’s educational journey is a unique story of hard work, determination and courage.
7 Nov, 2024 00:11 EST

Asia Society & Culture

Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik discredits Christianity in Pakistan visit, draws Christians' ire

By A. S. John

Christian leaders in Pakistan have condemned Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik’s objectionable remarks about Christianity during his various public sermons in Pakistan when touring the country on a month-long state-sponsored visit in October.
30 Aug, 2024 09:08 EDT

Asia Society & Culture

Christians among thousands of freelancers hit by installation of Pakistan's China-inspired internet firewall

By A. S. John

Shumayle Falak makes a living for his family by freelancing on online marketplaces but a nationwide internet slowdown due to the installation of a firewall by the government has rendered him and hundreds of thousands of other Pakistani youths jobless, exacerbating their financial woes in the inflation-hit economy.
18 Aug, 2024 21:08 EDT

Asia Church & Missions

Vatican removes Pakistani archbishop over corruption, sexual abuse charges

By A. S. John

The Vatican has removed the archbishop of the biggest Catholic diocese in Pakistan after an inquiry found him at the center of financial corruption, illegal sale of church property, and involvement in sexual abuse, according to reliable sources.
14 Aug, 2024 23:08 EDT

Asia Society & Culture

As Muslim athlete receives lavish welcome, Pakistani 'Power Girls' wonder: 'Is our Christian faith a barrier to recognition?'

By A. S. John

Muslim athlete Arshad Nadeem who won a javelin gold medal at the Paris Olympics for a world record-breaking throw has received a hero’s welcome, sponsorships and significant financial rewards from the government. Three remarkable sisters who have etched their names in history by consistently winning gold medals for Pakistan in the sport of powerlifting, however, have watched the happenings with mixed feelings.

A. S. John

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