ICC Note:

A Christian leader in Pakistan has called for the repeal of the country’s blasphemy laws as well as other laws that are discriminatory against religious minorities. According to this leader, these discriminatory laws are effecting the development of the Christian community, as well as other religious minority communities. Often, leaders in Pakistan are afraid to call for the repeal of the blasphemy laws. In the past, similar calls have led to assassinations of high profile politicians by radical groups supporting the blasphemy laws. 

11/08/2016 Pakistan (Christians in Pakistan) – A young Pakistani Christian leader, Shalokh Irfan, has urged for the revocation of the country’s blasphemy laws which he claims are being used to target minorities, especially Christians. While remaking in this regard, he said that religious minorities living in the country are not safe, “rather Christians of every age, churches, and even Christian neighborhoods have been smashed by burning. Due to this reason, minorities are always in the state of threat, harassment, and insecurity.”

Shalokh further put his perspective forward and said that all the laws entertaining discrimination against religious minorities must be done away with. He demanded that non-Muslim Pakistanis be bestowed with equal rights. “We demand from government that all discriminatory laws against Christians, including blasphemy law, should be curbed and ended instantly.”

He emphasized that all the minorities living in Pakistan are nationalistic and are playing an equal part in the progress of Pakistan. He added that minorities are facing increasingly disturbing intolerance and partiality – which hampers the prosperity of minorities.

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