In his statement at the UNHRC, PR Thulasidhass, under secretary, ministry of external affairs, highlighted the recent attack on the Christian community in Pakistan and slammed the country for its alleged failure to ensure fundamental human rights to them.
“Pakistan has failed miserably in protecting the rights of its ethnic and religious minorities, including Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Ahmadiyas, and Shia Muslims, who are systemically persecuted on a daily basis and deprived of their human rights, especially their freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression and right to life,” India said in its statement.
India slams Pakistan on persecution of minorities at UNHRC review
“In contrast to the empty rhetoric delivered by the Pakistan delegation in the Council, only last week, nearly 75 graves and minarets of two worship places belonging to the Ahmadiya community were demolished by the Pakistan police and radicalists in Punjab province. Tension still grips Daska city as the radicalists threaten to raze the minarets of a historic worship place of this community that was declared non-Muslim by the Pakistani Parliament in 1974,” it added.
PR Thulasidhass informed the Council that in August of this year, more than 19 churches were set ablaze, and 89 Christian homes were incinerated in broad daylight in Jaranwala in Pakistan’s Faisalabad district.
India counters Pakistan’s Kashmir remarks at UN, calls for action on terrorism and human rights
“In the face of the Human Rights Committee’s recommendations to repeal or amend its blasphemy laws, which carry a potential death sentence and have been misused to target minorities, Pakistan recently enhanced minimum punishment for those who insult revered personalities from three to ten years,” he said.
Earlier this year in January, India had called upon to end systemic persecution of minorities, misuse of blasphemy laws and forced conversions of minority community girls.
India also asked Pakistan to stop targeting political dissidents and legitimate political activities in Sindh, Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and to take credible, verifiable, irreversible and sustained action against terrorism emanating from territories under its control.
(With agency inputs)