CSJ issues annual report on minorities’ issues

LAHORE: Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has issued its annual factsheet covering issues faced by for the religious minorities in Pakistan.

The reports covers violence against minorities, prevalence of forced conversions, abuse of blasphemy laws, remissions in jail terms for minority prisoners, hurdles in establishing the national commission for minorities rights, issues in education system reforms, and national population census.

The report reveals that attacks on persons, properties, and places of worship of minorities increased in 2023 to record heights.

At least 193 such incidents were reported in Pakistan.

The provinces of Punjab and Sindh witnessed 42 incidents in places of worship of minorities.

The report says at least 329 persons were accused under blasphemy laws and 180 cases were reported. Among the accused, 247 were Muslims, 65 Ahmadis, 11 Christians, and one accused was Hindu, while the religious affiliation of five accused was not known.

The reported cases of alleged abduction and forced conversion spiked to 136, the highest so far. Among these, 110 Hindu girls were abducted in Sindh, and 26 Christian girls were in Punjab. A majority of incidents took place in Sindh, while 77% of these girls were minors or, under the age of 18.

CSJ’s Executive Director Peter Jacob Centre stated that the annual factsheet presents workable solutions and recommendations to address the issues for the realisation and protection of the rights of minorities.

He urged the government to take stock of these issues and make the enforcement of the human rights of minorities a priority.