In a startling admission, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has publicly acknowledged the government's inability to shield religious minorities from targeted violence. Asif's statement, made during a National Assembly session, highlighted the dire situation faced by minorities in the country, who are increasingly victims of mob attacks and lynchings often fueled by blasphemy accusations.
Asif condemned the recent wave of violence as a "matter of concern and embarrassment," revealing that many victims have no connection to blasphemy but are instead targeted due to personal vendettas. He urged the assembly to pass a resolution ensuring the safety and protection of minorities, emphasizing that "Pakistan belongs to all Pakistanis, regardless of their faith."
Pakistan's stringent blasphemy laws, which carry harsh penalties including the death penalty, have long been criticized for their discriminatory application against religious minorities. Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and Ahmadis are disproportionately accused and convicted under these laws.
Beyond the legal framework, minorities also face social discrimination, particularly Hindus and Sikhs in the Sindh region, where young girls are often abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married off to Muslim men.
The recent attack on a Christian man in Sargodha city over blasphemy suspicions serves as a grim reminder of the escalating violence faced by minorities. Despite constitutional protections, religious communities remain vulnerable to persecution.
The government's attempt to introduce a resolution condemning mob lynchings and protecting minorities faced strong opposition from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, stalling its passage.
Human rights organizations and international bodies have repeatedly raised alarm over Pakistan's blasphemy laws and the persecution of minorities. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has designated Pakistan as a "country of particular concern" due to its severe violations of religious freedom.
