ISLAMABAD– A new report has highlighted how Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and religious vigilantism are being misused against minority communities, with Hindus and Sindhis bearing the brunt of the abuse.
According to The Daily Mirror, a Sri Lankan newspaper cited in the report, blasphemy allegations—often fabricated to settle personal disputes or fueled by prejudice—have surged in recent years. In 2024 alone, at least 475 cases were filed, underscoring how easily these laws are exploited.
“A mere accusation of blasphemy can unleash murderous mobs,” the report stated. “Vigilantes have repeatedly lynched accused individuals, and entire minority communities have been attacked after such claims. Perpetrators are rarely punished, and the state frequently looks the other way.”
For Pakistan’s Hindus, the danger extends beyond false accusations. The report pointed to a disturbing rise in abductions and forced conversions, particularly targeting Hindu girls. In June 2025, four Hindu youths, including three teenage girls, were abducted in Sindh province and coerced into converting to Islam. A local court upheld the conversion as “voluntary,” a decision the report said reflects a broader pattern of impunity.
Human rights groups cited in the report note that forced marriages of underage Hindu girls remain common in Sindh and Punjab, with little intervention from authorities.
The condition of Hindu religious heritage has also deteriorated. Out of 365 Hindu temples across Pakistan, only 13 are actively maintained by the government. Nearly 300 are abandoned, illegally occupied, or left in ruins, according to a judicial inquiry.
“These crimes tear families apart, while extremists desecrate Hindu shrines without consequence,” the report added.
The report further noted that Sindhis, though a Muslim ethnic minority, face parallel forms of repression. It blamed Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, for fostering a climate of hardline nationalism since taking charge in 2022.
Munir, described as a staunch Islamist, has “emboldened extremists and worsened conditions for minorities,” the report said.
The findings underscore how Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have evolved into a powerful tool of persecution, leaving Hindus and Sindhis increasingly vulnerable to violence, abductions, and erasure of their cultural identity. (Source: IANS)
