ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Religious minorities in Pakistan continue to face widespread discrimination, targeted violence, and restrictive laws that undermine their ability to practice their faith safely, according to a new report that has renewed international scrutiny of the country’s human rights record.
The report, citing observers and rights advocates, said communities including Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Ahmadis and others remain vulnerable to social marginalization, attacks on places of worship, and legal constraints that limit religious freedom. It noted that forced conversions, mob violence, and the alleged misuse of blasphemy laws have repeatedly been documented, creating a climate of fear among non-Muslim populations.
The victimization of minority communities has been highlighted for years by human rights groups and raised in international forums, the report said, calling into question Pakistan’s commitment to protecting religious freedom and equal rights under the law.
Critics cited in the report argued that while Pakistan frequently raises concerns about the treatment of minorities in other countries, those statements often overlook its own domestic challenges and are seen as an attempt to divert attention from internal human rights issues.
Rights advocates said any meaningful improvement would require legal reforms, stronger action against hate crimes, and a broader societal shift toward tolerance and inclusion. Without such changes, they warned, Pakistan’s treatment of minorities is likely to remain a persistent subject of global criticism.
The report comes amid heightened diplomatic exchanges between Pakistan and India over minority rights. India’s Ministry of External Affairs earlier this week rejected remarks from Islamabad regarding violence against minorities in India, pointing instead to Pakistan’s own record.
“We reject the reported remarks from a country whose abysmal record on this front speaks for itself,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that Pakistan’s “systemic victimization of minorities of various faiths is a well-established fact.”
Indian officials have previously made similar remarks, urging Pakistan to focus on its internal human rights situation rather than commenting on religious issues in India. (Source: IANS)
