LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called on the government to take immediate action to safeguard the rights of religious minorities in the country.

In an open letter written on National Minorities Day, the HRCP’s National Interfaith Working Group—comprising leaders from various faith communities, as well as lawyers, journalists, and human rights defenders—demanded stronger protection for minorities.

The HRCP emphasised that the right to practise, profess, and propagate one’s religion is enshrined in Articles 20 and 21 of the Constitution of Pakistan as fundamental rights, and has been upheld by the Supreme Court in various rulings, particularly the landmark 2014 judgement. Pakistan is also bound by its international obligations and recommendations accepted during its fourth Universal Periodic Review. The HRCP stressed that the right to freedom of religion or belief was central to the vision of Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The letter highlighted the alarming rise in mob violence, forced conversions, false blasphemy allegations, hate speech, and attacks on places of worship. The HRCP asserted that this atmosphere of fear and repression is a consequence of the state’s long-standing accommodation of far-right religious groups, leading to an increasingly radicalised society.

The group urged the government to fully implement the Supreme Court’s 2014 judgement, including the establishment of an autonomous national commission for minorities and the protection of religious sites from violence and illegal occupation.

The HRCP called on the state to take a firm stance against hate speech, incitement to violence, and mob attacks, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable and that victims are compensated for any loss of life or property.

The group also recommended stringent regulation of religious seminaries to prevent them from becoming breeding grounds for hatred against minorities. They advocated for the formation of multifaith peace committees to monitor and report violence against minorities.

The HRCP urged accountability for those making false blasphemy accusations and called on the parliament to debate the misuse of blasphemy laws.

The commission further recommended a mass awareness campaign to promote the rights of religious minorities and the value of diversity. This should include recruiting more teachers from minority communities and removing discriminatory content from educational curricula.

The state should ensure minority quotas in employment and promoting the inclusion of minorities in key sectors, such as the judiciary, civil service and law enforcement.

The group also called for the enactment of laws to criminalise early marriages and forced conversions, which disproportionately affect girls and women from minority communities.

The HRCP emphasised the need for an accurate recording of minority populations in the national census and the recognition of Buddhism as a distinct religion in official forms.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2024