A spike in reported cases of forced conversions has put a question mark on the religious freedom of minorities. Thirty-eight cases of forced conversions of underage girls have been reported this year, which is a cause for concern. In Pakistan, minorities feel insecure, and this is the result of discriminatory policies of the state and society towards them. There are numerous examples of injustice that are committed against the members of minority communities almost on a daily basis across the country. Successive governments do not seem to care about the challenges the minorities have been facing for many years. They do not have equal rights, are often subjected to injustice, and come under attack on the pretext of mere allegations. Forced conversion of girls belonging to minorities has become a common practice in the interior Sindh and some areas of Punjab.
The persecution of minorities at the hands of extremists has been going on for years, but not much has changed despite promises as there is a glaring absence of tangible steps to end this injustice.
How a country that was established because of the fear that Muslims’ minority status in India would disadvantage them turned into a country in which its minorities do not feel safe is both an ironic and an extremely unfortunate commentary on the bigotry that has taken roots in Pakistan. Voices must be raised to force government to give equal rights to minorities in all spheres of life. Minorities in Pakistan need to be strengthened so that they can live their lives without fear. Their status is in fact a metric for the success of the state of Pakistan, and that metric is in dire need of improvement. Meanwhile, it is the minorities that are suffering, and Pakistan would be evading its responsibility to its citizens by remaining apathetic towards that suffering. Justice and inclusivity are the pillars on which successful states are built upon and it is time for Pakistan to strengthen those pillars.
