Analysts reject US report about religious freedom in Pakistan
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The rights of religious minorities are fully protected in Pakistan. It is unfortunate that so many countries, including United States, have been expressing their reservations over alleged violation of rights of minorities in Pakistan.
The government of Pakistan, and Foreign Office should issue harsh-worded response to US allegations against Pakistan. Pakistan has a religious constitution, which grants equal rights to religious minorities. I think allegations leveled by the United States bear no justification.
I would like to remind the United States that India is the country where Muslims are being targeted and where the BJP is supporting violence against Muslims ostensibly over beef. Pakistan does not need counsel by any individual country on how to protect the rights of religious minorities.
Pakistan maintains that the proponents of human rights worldwide have closed their eyes to the systematic persecution of minorities subjected to alien domination and foreign occupation such as in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Nearly four percent of Pakistan’s total population comprises of citizens belonging to Christian, Hindu, Buddhists and Sikh faiths. Ensuring equal treatment of minorities and their enjoyment of human rights without any discrimination is the cardinal principle of the Constitution of Pakistan.
The United States has been engaged in launching negative propaganda against Pakistan. The present government of Pakistan is playing its vital role to protect rights of minorities. It is just a pressure building tactic to mitigate US failures in Afghanistan.
US attempt to pressurize Pakistan to do its bidding will not work anymore. Washington should keep in mind that Pakistan is an important country and without Islamabad’s support it cannot promote peace in Afghanistan. It is high time for the United States to take responsibility for its failures in Afghanistan and if it is serious about religious freedoms then it needs to examine the record of Modi-led regime in India and some of its EU allies.
Pakistan has issued a strong rebuttal of US baseless allegations regarding protection of rights of minorities. Pakistan has always protected rights of religious minorities. Special seats were reserved for minorities in the Parliament of Pakistan to ensure their adequate representation and voice in the legislation process. Equal treatment of minorities enshrined in Constitution.
National Commission on Human Rights addresses concerns over violations of minorities' rights. Judiciary has made several landmark decisions to protect the properties and worship places of minorities.
The United States should be ashamed of issuing such remarks. The US status among international community has fallen down. India is engaged in violating massive human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir, but Washington had not included New Delhi in any black list.
This is a matter of concern for the entire international community. Pakistan is a country, which has given full freedom to minorities to exercise their religious obligations. I dismiss US allegations that there were safe havens for terrorists in Pakistan.
