US condemns Pakistan for persecuting minorities

WASHINGTON, July 23: The US has condemned Pakistan for persecuting its minorities and said discriminatory religious legislation in the coun...

WASHINGTON, July 23: The US has condemned Pakistan for persecuting its minorities and said discriminatory religious legislation in the country has led to the violence against the minority communities.

“The blasphemy provision contributes to inter-religious tension, intimidation, fear and violence. Islamic extremists have assaulted, raped and even murdered members of religious minorities,” the US State Department said in its first ever report on religious freedom submitted to the US Congress.

It said Pakistan’s blasphemy law and discriminatory religious legislation has “led to acts of violence directed at Ahmadis, Christians, Hindus and Zakris” in that country. The report added, “In many cases police fail to take necessary precautions or investigate or prosecute those responsible. This failure has contributed to a feeling of insecurity in many minority communities.”

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It also said that although the Pakistani Constitution prohibits discrimination in government employment, religious minorities in Pakistan “are reportedly under-represented at all levels of government services especially in the senior ranks.”

The US, the report said, has urged Pakistan to give equal legal protection to religious minorities.