Lahore:
The Pakistan Human Rights Committee (HRCP) has welcomed certain government measures such as positive stages, including the promulgation of the Children’s Wedding Act and the creation of provincial research centers to counter violent extremism.
According to the Commission, initiatives mark significant progress towards the safeguard of religious freedom and the rights of minorities.
In his latest report, “Streets of Fear: Freedom of Religion Or Belief in 2024/25”, HRCP revealed a disturbing increase in violence against religious minorities in the past year.
The report highlighted the incidents of targeted murders, the demolition of places of worship, the forced conversion and the marriage of the Hindu and Christian girls minor and an increase in the speech of hatred, warning that tendencies constitute serious threats to religious freedom in Pakistan.
The report expressed its alarm on two cases of “extrajudicial killings” by the police, describing them as “deeply frightening”.
In both cases, individuals accused of blasphemy requested protection against violent crowds, to be shot dead by police officers themselves.
The HRCP said that these incidents highlight the urgent need for stronger police reforms and stronger mechanisms.
