HRFP Report Exposes Rising Threats to Pakistan's Religious Minorities

The Human Rights Focus Pakistan's Q1 2025 report reveals increased persecution of religious minorities, highlighting cases of abductions, forced conversions, and false blasphemy charges. The report criticizes ineffective justice due to resource constraints and perpetrator impunity, urging systemic changes to protect vulnerable communities.

The Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) has unveiled a scathing report for the first quarter of 2025, highlighting a marked increase in persecution faced by religious minorities in the country. The organization condemned the prevalence of abuses, attributing the lack of relief and justice to resource shortages and the impunity granted to perpetrators, often supported by powerful religious and political figures.

HRFP President Naveed Walter addressed the findings, emphasizing the vulnerabilities of religious minorities in Pakistan, who are frequently targeted through attacks, false blasphemy charges, abductions, and forced conversions and marriages. He noted a significant rise in incidents since January 2025, including the case of Christian youth Wasif Masih from Chak Jhumra, falsely accused, assaulted, and publicly humiliated.

The report detailed disturbing cases such as the abduction and forced conversion of 12-year-old Ariha Gulzar, and the brutal attack on shopkeeper Javed Masih over fabricated blasphemy claims. Other incidents include Shahnaz Bibi's forced conversion, Mehwish Nazir's religiously motivated accusations, and Akash Karamat's prolonged imprisonment. Communal unrest is also highlighted, with protests over infrastructural neglect and religious site desecration.

Walter revealed that HRFP's REAT Helpline had fielded over 400 calls on religious persecution in early 2025. HRFP is advocating for independent investigations into the surge of blasphemy cases, especially those involving minors, and calls for systemic reforms to safeguard at-risk minority groups in Pakistan.

(With inputs from agencies.)