Religious minorities in Pakistan face persecution by Islamic terrorists

Updated:7 years, 6 months ago

Quetta (Pakistan)/Geneva (Switzerland), May 07 (ANI): On April 22, two people from the Hazara community were shot dead in a sectarian attack in Quetta city of Balochistan province of Pakistan. In Pakistan, targeted killings of minorities have continued and are being carried out by Taliban, Islamic State, and other Sunni Muslim militant groups for their religious beliefs. Hazaras, whose population is around half a million in and around Quetta city, are a mainly Shi’ite Muslim community. Another community which has been facing persecution in Pakistan is Ahmadiyya. Since Pakistan is home to the largest population of Ahmadis in the world, they have been facing persecution by Muslim fundamentalists, who consider them as non-Muslims. Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan is facing discrimination since 1984 when the then President of Pakistan Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq brought Ordinance XX in the Constitution. The legislation restricted the religious freedom of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, prohibited the reading and writing of the Quran and building mosques. It also prohibits calling themselves Muslim and threatened prison terms for any individual who in any manner whatsoever outrages the religious feelings of Muslims. A majority of people facing blasphemy charges are from the Ahmadia community. The Lahore based Center for Social Justice estimated that at least 1,472 people have been charged with blasphemy from 1987 to 2016. Of the 730 Muslims charges, 501 were Ahmadis. Pakistan has forever, been an intolerant country, especially for the religious minorities, whether they are, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians or even the Ahmadiyyas. This is worst human rights violations which the International Community need to review.