KABUL, March 24: The chief judge trying the case of an Afghan man for converting from Islam to Christianity on Friday criticised international calls for his release, saying no one has the right to exert pressure on the court.

Australia’s Prime Minister John Howard on Friday joined the western leaders who have expressed outrage at the case, while in Kabul clerics condemned Abdul Rahman as an apostate who deserved to die.

Howard said he would protest personally to President Hamid Karzai. “This is appalling. When I saw the report about this I felt sick, literally,” Howard told an Australian radio network. —AP

Opinion

Editorial

Last call
Updated 15 Nov, 2024

Last call

PTI should hardly be turning its "final" protest into a "do or die" occasion.
Mini budget talk
15 Nov, 2024

Mini budget talk

NO matter how much Pakistan’s finance managers try to downplay the prospect of a ‘mini budget’ to pull off a...
Diabetes challenge
15 Nov, 2024

Diabetes challenge

AMONGST the many public health challenges confronting Pakistan, diabetes arguably does not get the attention it...
China security ties
Updated 14 Nov, 2024

China security ties

If China's security concerns aren't addressed satisfactorily, it may affect bilateral ties. CT cooperation should be pursued instead of having foreign forces here.
Steep price
14 Nov, 2024

Steep price

THE Hindu Kush-Himalayan region is in big trouble. A new study unveiled at the ongoing COP29 reveals that if high...
A high-cost plan
14 Nov, 2024

A high-cost plan

THE government has approved an expensive plan for FBR in the hope of tackling its deep-seated inefficiencies. The...