Pakistan’s religious minorities—Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Ahmadis, Shia Muslims, and others—face systemic discrimination in nearly every aspect of life. While the Constitution promises equality, the lived reality for these communities is one of marginalization, exclusion, and violence. Discrimination is not only perpetrated by extremist groups but is also often enabled or ignored by state institutions.
Forced Conversions and Abductions
Religious minorities, particularly Hindu and Christian girls, are frequently abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married off to older men. Legal frameworks fail to protect them, and perpetrators enjoy impunity. Families of abducted victims are often threatened or silenced, and efforts to seek justice are met with obstruction.
This practice is part of a broader pattern of gendered religious violence, where individuals are targeted not only for their faith but for their vulnerability as women and minors.
Mob Violence and Blasphemy Accusations
False blasphemy accusations frequently lead to mob violence, where entire communities are attacked. Religious minorities—especially Christians and Ahmadis—are often the targets of such accusations, leading to deadly attacks on their homes and places of worship. The state often fails to intervene, and perpetrators are rarely held accountable.
Blasphemy laws are frequently used as a tool to settle personal scores or target vulnerable groups, turning them into scapegoats for larger political or societal issues.
Vandalism and Desecration of Worship Places
Places of worship belonging to religious minorities, including temples, churches, and Ahmadi mosques, are regularly attacked, desecrated, or even seized. The government frequently fails to protect these spaces, allowing the destruction of sacred sites to continue unabated.
Such acts of vandalism are not merely physical—they symbolize the erasure of minorities from the national consciousness, reinforcing their status as second-class citizens.
Political Discrimination and Legal Exclusion
Religious minorities in Pakistan face exclusion from political processes. Laws like the Second Amendment to the Constitution have explicitly marginalized Ahmadis, declaring them non-Muslim and criminalizing their religious practices. While minorities have reserved seats in the parliament, these positions are largely ceremonial, and they have little influence over meaningful policy.
Economic Discrimination
Economic discrimination is pervasive, with minorities often confined to low-paying, hazardous, or menial jobs. Christian and Hindu communities, for example, are disproportionately employed in sanitation work or brick kilns. These workers face poor conditions and limited opportunities for advancement.
Religious minorities are also excluded from public sector employment and other formal economic opportunities, often due to religious bias or caste-based prejudice.
Social Exclusion and Everyday Discrimination
From school curricula that demonize minorities to social exclusion in housing, education, and public services, religious minorities are treated as outsiders. Hate speech is normalized, with derogatory comments about non-Muslims frequently heard in public spaces and media.
Social discrimination extends to physical spaces too: minority communities are often restricted from accessing certain public areas, and interfaith marriages are widely stigmatized.
The Case of Ahmadis: State-Sanctioned Persecution
Among Pakistan’s most persecuted communities, Ahmadis face the most overt legal and social discrimination. The state officially declared Ahmadis non-Muslim in 1974, and criminalized their religious expression under Sections 298-B and 298-C of the Penal Code. Ahmadis are forbidden from calling their places of worship “mosques,” reciting the kalima, or even using Islamic greetings, all of which could result in imprisonment.
Ahmadi businesses and mosques are frequently targeted for vandalism and harassment. Ahmadi students are bullied in schools, and Ahmadi professionals face exclusion from public service roles. This state-sanctioned persecution has led to their widespread marginalization and isolation from society.
The Impact of Discrimination
This discrimination violates fundamental human rights, as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international treaties. Religious intolerance, hate crimes, and mob violence erode the rule of law and social harmony, leading to a society marked by division, fear, and instability.
The Role of Extremist Groups
Religious extremist groups play a critical role in perpetuating this climate of intolerance. They attack minorities, justify violence under the guise of religious defense, and incite hatred in the name of religious purity. These groups often receive tacit approval or direct support from certain political or state factions, further deepening the crisis. Extremist groups include the likes of Tehreek-e-Labbaik, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, etc.