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Minorities in Pakistan face persecution, discrimination: Activists

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Activists from the Christian minority in Pakistan say they are being persecuted, discriminated and forced to leave the country.

Now living in exile, these members of the Christian community participated at the ongoing 39th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva and demanded the safety of minorities in Pakistan, and emphasised on the abolition of blasphemy law.


Noyal Malik, a human rights defender and member of the Pakistan Minorities Alliance, who now lives in Italy, said: "Not only Christians, all minorities in Pakistan are facing discrimination and getting persecuted. They are feeling unsafe and are leaving the country. We have participated at the United Nations and request the Pakistan government to provide security and safety to the minorities, which are being denied to them as of now."

"The minorities in Pakistan are paying a huge price for safeguarding their own identity. They are living in fear and have no freedom. We are being offered jobs of sweepers in Pakistan," he added.

Pakistan remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for Christians, as Muslims forcibly convert Christian girls to get them married.

Christian families have, in turn, suffered numerous attacks for refusing to allow their daughters to marry Muslims.

Noyal said, "Blasphemy Law is being used by Muslims for their personal benefit. If someone is accusing other person of blasphemy, the complainant should also be put behind bars till the allegation gets confirmed. People are misusing blasphemy for their personal rivalry and forced marriages. A person files a complaint without having any witness. Take the case of Asia Bibi, who has been languishing in the jail, whereas the complainant is roaming freely".

Sharoon Lazer, President of the Pakistan Minorities Alliance, who lives in Malta, said: "Christians in Pakistan are facing discrimination and persecution. They are not getting proper rights as a Pakistani national should get. People are forced to migrate from the country. Blasphemy Law is being misused widely against the minorities and they are not getting proper jobs in the government. If someone gets a change to get a job, the person gets removed by the mullahs".

Citing the example of Atif Mian, who was recently removed by Imran Khan's government, Lazer said, "Recently, a minority Ahmadi Muslim (Atif Mian) has been removed from a recently established economic council because of opposition from hard-line Islamists. Not only Christians, other minorities like Hindus and Ahmadis are facing a tough time."

Pakistani Christians living in Europe and UK recently held a protest march in Geneva to make the international community aware about their persecution. A poster campaign in front of the United Nations office also highlighted their plight.


Link: https://www.business-standard.com/a...-discrimination-activists-118092700044_1.html
 
Good for such things to be discussed in the open. IK held a meeting with Pak non-Muslim's today to discuss their problems. We must treat non Muslim Pakistanis like Muslim's are by and large treated in the west. Human rights always come before everything else. Human dignity and the right to believe in whatever people want without being discriminated is an integral teaching of every faith.

http://insaf.pk/public/insafpk/news/delegation-minorities-meets-prime-minister-imran-khan
 
Initially, it was claimed that they were killed because of blasphemy. Even if we discount this case, Pakistan still remains a horrible horrible place for minorities.

The claim of blasphemy was rebutted right away you posted about it a good 12 hours after the news was broken. Meaning you were aware it was not blasphemy related.

Your intent was to lie blatantly and gives further proof of your intentions
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The claim of blasphemy was rebutted right away you posted about it a good 12 hours after the news was broken. Meaning you were aware it was not blasphemy related.

Your intent was to lie blatantly and gives further proof of your intentions

Nope.:broad
 
Had Raised Cases Of Persecution Of Minorities With Pakistan: Centre

New Delhi:

The government today said it had raised with Pakistan cases of persecution of minority groups in that country and urged it to take steps to protect and promote the security of minority communities and their places of religious worship.

In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said in the case of Pakistan, there have been reports of frequent instances of vandalism and desecration of places of religious worship belonging to the minority communities.

Incidents reported in the last three years include the vandalism and desecration of Gurudwara Nankana Sahib, Gurudwara Shri Guru Harkishen Sahib in Sindh, statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore, Shiv Mandir in Mirpur Mathelo, Hindu temple in Tharparkar, Shri Mari Mata Mandir in Karachi, Sant Mohan Das temple in Larkana, Hindu temple in Hyderabad, and theft of gold idol in Sant Baba Jairamdas Samadhi Ashram in Shikarpur, Sindh, the minister said.

He was responding to a question on whether the government has taken note of the frequent attacks on temples or Gurdwaras in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other foreign countries.

"Based on reports of persecution of minority groups in Pakistan, government has raised all such cases with the government of Pakistan calling upon it to take steps to protect and promote the safety, security and well-being of its minority communities and their places of religious worship," Muraleedharan said.

Pakistan has also been asked to take immediate measures to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of such despicable and heinous acts to justice, he said.

It is the responsibility of the Pakistani government to discharge its obligations towards its citizens, including those from the minority community, the minister said.

"As regards to Indians in Pakistan, all necessary assistance is provided through our High Commission in Islamabad. Government attaches high importance to the issue of Indian prisoners held in Pakistan custody. As per the lists exchanged on 01 July 2022, Pakistan acknowledged the custody of 49 civilian prisoners and 633 fishermen who are Indians or believed-to-be Indians," he said.

As soon as cases of apprehension of Indian fishermen and their fishing boats by Pakistan are reported, immediate steps are taken by the Indian Mission in Islamabad towards seeking consular access from the Pakistani government, Muraleedharan said.

"All possible assistance, including legal assistance, is extended to the fishermen for their early release and repatriation, along with the release of their boats. Government consistently takes up the matter of welfare, safety and security of Indian fishermen in Pakistan, pending their release," he said.

As a result of persistent efforts, India has been successful in securing the release and repatriation of more than 2,700 Indian prisoners from Pakistan's custody since 2014, he said.

India has sought early consular access and release and repatriation of the remaining Indians in Pakistan's custody, Muraleedharan said.

He said in case of Afghanistan, there were attacks at Gurudwara Har Rai Sahib in Kabul in March 2020, and Gurudwara Dashmesh Pita Sahib Sri Gobind Sahib Ji in Kabul on June 18 2022.

The attacks led to the loss of life of around 25 people and injured around 11 people, including one Indian national, he said, noting that India strongly condemned both the cowardly terrorist attacks which targeted the innocent civilian population.

"In view of the rapid deterioration in the security situation in Afghanistan, especially after 15 August 2021, a 24X7 Special Afghanistan Cell was set up in the Ministry of External Affairs to facilitate repatriation of Indians.

"Thereafter, under Operation Devi Shakti, Government of India evacuated a total of 669 people, including 448 Indian nationals in seven flights," the minister said.

All Indian nationals who had sought repatriation to India were evacuated, he said.

Further, e-visas were issued promptly to the Afghan Sikh community members to enable them to travel to India, he added.

Responding to another question, Ramesh said as per the information available with the ministry, the number of Indian prisoners, including under-trials, in foreign jails at present is 8,441, of which 4,389 are lodged in jails of Gulf countries.

NDTV
 
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