Hate crimes against minorities in Pakistan

R. Tanvir
Since independence in 1947, Pakistan has remained home to a diverse range of cultures, religions and ethnic groups. While the vast majority of Pakistanis is Muslim, populations of Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and other religions also live in the country. In fact, the Muslim population itself is made up of various sects such as Sunnis, Shias, Ismailis, Bohras, and Sufis. In a country so diverse – built on the rulings of Islam, where peace and tolerance are core values – one would expect there to be great harmony amongst all those living within the borders. Unfortunately, that is far from the truth.

Pakistan has long struggled with issues of discrimination and hate against minorities. Despite promises of equality from the law, minorities within the country have always faced – and continue to face – hate crimes against them. These hate crimes come in various forms, ranging from mob violence and indifference from the law, to forced conversions and target killings. These incidents are part of an ongoing problem that puts not only the image of Pakistan in danger, but the image of Islam at a risk too – the very foundation from which this country came into existence.

Mob violence and targeted killings
One of the most horrifying displays of hate crimes in Pakistan is when mobs take law into their own hands, often based on rumors or unverified allegations. This has been seen countless times in different parts of the country. In 2021, Priyantha Kumara, a Sri Lankan factory manager, was beaten to death and his body set on fire over false blasphemy accusations in Punjab. More recently, in 2023, a mob attack in the city of Jaranwala saw churches and Christian homes vandalized and destroyed after blasphemy allegations against two Christian men, forcing entire families to flee for safety.

Targeted killings have been another display of hate violence, and not just against minorities of a different religion, but also against Muslims belonging to a sect other than the majority Sunni Muslims. In January 2021, as many as 11 Hazara coalminers in Balochistan were kidnapped and brutally executed just because of their identity. Another example was the Parachinar bombings in June 2017, where two blasts in a market in the Shia-majority city killed at least 75 people and injured over 300. Attacks like these continue to take place, and despite protests and demands for justice, the violence never really stops.

Forced conversions and abductions
The hate against minority groups also stems in forms other than killings. Religious minorities, particularly Hindus and Christians, frequently face forced conversions and abductions. In Sindh, where a significant portion of Hindu population lives, there have been multiple cases of young girls being kidnapped, forcibly converted to Islam, and then married off to older men.

Despite the promised legal protections, families often struggle to get justice due to societal pressures and biased law enforcement.

Attacks on places of worship
The intolerance towards minorities is further demonstrated through attacks on places of worship. In 2021, a Hindu temple in Bhong, Punjab, was vandalized and burned by an angry mob after a young Hindu boy was accused of blasphemy. There have also been multiple incidents across Punjab where Ahmadi mosques have been targeted and destroyed.

Discrimination in law and society
Physical violence is just one portion of the inequality and injustice against the country’s minorities. They continue to struggle with never ending discrimination due to the country’s laws, policies, social practices, political representation, and job market.

Blasphemy laws are misused against minorities, oftentimes based on false accusations. An example of this is the case of Shagufta Kausar and her husband, who were sentenced to death after an alleged blasphemous text message, but after spending a few years in jail were later acquitted.

Discrimination also seeps its way into the job market. Due to the lack of opportunities for them, many Christians and Hindus are often forced into low-paying tasks like domestic labour and sanitation work and are stripped of access to pathways for higher paying jobs or influential positions.

They also have living conditions worse than the majority population. Minorities struggle with access to education and healthcare, where children attend underfunded schools while proper healthcare is inaccessible due to lack of income earning opportunities.

Need for action
Minorities are an essential part of Pakistan’s identity, like the many threads in a tapestry, each contributing to the country’s richness and diversity. Yet they are forced to live their life in constant fear, facing prejudice, and struggling against a system that refuses to treat them as equals.

Hate crimes against minorities in Pakistan can no longer be overlooked. This is an issue deeply rooted into the law, society, and the mindsets of the majority population. It is an issue that demands attention and action. Stricter laws need to be enforced against hate crimes, mob attacks, vandalism and violence. Representation of minorities in politics and government, as well as elimination of discriminatory policies need to be implemented. Moreover, awareness campaigns should be spread in order to form cultural and society acceptance and dismantle the internal biases, judgements, and hate against minorities.

Just like any other person in the country, every minority citizen should have the right to live, work, study, and walk freely without a shadow of fear hanging over their heads.

Addressing this issue is not only about protecting the people of our country, it’s about upholding the values of unity, faith, and discipline that Pakistan was meant to stand for.
“There should be no discrimination against any community. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one state,” said Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.