Police have accused 23 people of arson and damaging property in the torching of two churches during a protest about the burning of Islam’s holy book in a southern city, an official said today.

Armed assailants opened fire on a mosque belonging to a small Muslim sect in eastern Pakistan this morning, killing at least eight people and wounding 19 others.

A powerful car bomb blew up outside a Christian Bible society in Karachi today, injuring 12 people, damaging the wall of a nearby church and shattering parked cars.

A Roman Catholic priest was shot and killed in eastern Pakistan early today, police said.

Christian leaders in Pakistan today condemned the government for failing to protect minorities after gunmen stormed a Christian welfare organisation.