WASHINGTON, July 26: Twenty-seven senior US lawmakers have sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, urging him to encourage Pakistan to create a legislation against hate crime to protect non-Muslims from attacks.

“We write to you to express our profound concern over the escalating violence and intolerance towards religious minorities in Pakistan, including Hindus, Christians, Ahmadis and Shia[s]…,” they wrote.

The lawmakers said that minorities in Pakistan faced systemic violence, attacks on their places of worship, constitutional and legal discrimination and widespread restrictions on religious freedom.

Non-Muslim women and girls, in particular, were often subject to abductions and forced conversions, they added.

The lawmakers reminded Secretary Kerry that promoting religious freedom was vital to US national security interests in the region, and must play an important role in its policies towards Pakistan.

The lawmakers observed that the election of a new government in Pakistan had created a good opportunity for the United States to address the mounting crisis and to “ensure that religious freedom is a top priority as our nation moves into a new stage in the US-Pakistan relationship.”

They urged the State Department to work closely with the government of Pakistan to take measures to promote religious freedom.

“Repeal or reverse the blasphemy laws, and any constitutional provisions and statutory laws that institutionalise the inferior status of minorities, as well as, women and girls.”