Pak Christians fear more persecution in coming days

Pakistan's Christian minority is scared of more persecution following the Sunday attack that killed over 85 churchgoers in Peshawar.

The tiny Christian minority represents only about 2 percent of the predominantly Muslim population of 190 million in Pakistan, the Daily Times reports.

The attack came just two weeks after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif presided over the All-Parties Conference to discuss his government's policies on countering the militants.

Sharif's regime received consensus from all major political parties to open fresh peace talks with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

However, last week's killings of Major General Sanaullah Niazi and two other military officials in a road bomb in Khyber Pukhtawa province, and Sunday's attack in Peshawar church, have delivered a clear message from the Taliban that they want to continue the fight.

Some critics said that Sharif's peace initiative is going to fail, while others warned he risks a dangerous resurgence in militancy, if he closes the door on negotiations.

A Christian priest in Lahore said the law of blasphemy has often been used in Pakistan to target Christians.