Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Other Minorities NOT SAFE In Pakistan, Admits Country’s Minister Khawaja Asif

Pakistan: A few days back, a horrifying incident was reported from Pakistan when a local tourist was shot by a violent mob, dragged through streets and hung in full public view for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran in Pakistan’s Swat town. The victim, Muhammad Ismail’s body was later burned in the streets by fanatical mob.

Within no time, the news was all over social media, reaching all parts of the world.

Pakistan’s Extremist Ideology

Talking on the troubled country’s extremist ideology, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday admitted that the Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, smaller Muslim sects, and other minority groups are not safe in the country as he said that the minorities are facing “targeted violence in the name of religion”.

Khawaja Asif expressed his deep concern over the occurrence of targeted violence in the name of religion during a session of Pakistan’s national assembly.

Minorities Not Safe Under Guise Of Islam, Says Minister

“Every day, minorities are being killed. They are not safe under the guise of Islam. I want to address the issue of minority safety, but the opposition is blocking my efforts. Pakistan is facing global embarrassment,” said Asif, as quoted by Dawn.

In what seems to be an acknowledgment of the distressing situation, Asif stated that religious minorities in Pakistan are not secure despite constitutional safeguards. He advocated for a resolution to protect marginalized communities, emphasizing that numerous victims, unrelated to blasphemy accusations, have been targeted because of personal vendettas.

Even Smaller Muslim Sects Not Safe In Pakistan

“Even smaller Muslim sects are not safe in Pakistan, which is a disgraceful situation. We intend to propose a resolution to protect minorities. While our constitution guarantees minority rights, there are incidents of those who have been killed so far did not have any evidence linking them to blasphemy; rather, these killings seem to stem from personal vendettas,” said Khawaja Asif.

Hindus, Sikhs, Ahmadiyyas, Christians, Shias Continuously Face Violence

Hindus, Sikhs, and other minorities in Pakistan consistently face challenges such as forced conversions, abductions, murders, and attacks on their religious sites, as reported by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and Human Rights Watch. Additionally, the Ahmadiyya community endures severe oppression, including violent acts, intense persecution, legal constraints on their religious practices, hate speech, and physical assaults.

Likewise, Christians face discrimination in employment, education, and are often accused of blasphemy, which can lead to mob violence and church attacks. This community is vulnerable to societal and legal persecution. The legal system in Pakistan is biased against religious minorities, furthering their marginalization and vulnerability.