Minorities’ rights: ‘Level of intolerance on the rise in Pakistan’

HRCP demands government restore the demolished Hindu temple.

KARACHI: The level of intolerance in the country is on the rise, making it very difficult for minorities to survive in Pakistan, said Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) chairperson Zohra Yusuf.

Condemning the demolition of the Hindu temple by a builder and the Military Estate Office in Soldier Bazaar and the desecration of Ahmadi graves in Lahore, Yusuf said that these actions were extremely disturbing. “Minorities are not getting the freedom to practice their religion,” she said, adding that the country is losing its original values - to have a multi-religious society.

To improve the situation, Yusuf suggested the government arrest criminals who are involved in carrying out such acts of hatred. “The perpetrators know that they can get away, therefore, they are getting bolder instead of bringing their criminal activities to a stop.”



She also demanded that the law enforcers be trained to sympathise with the vulnerable minorities, given they always support the majority whenever a dispute occurs.

HRCP officials were also surprised that the encroachment claims were made now only because the builder’s interests were at stake. Had it been a house of worship for a majority group, this would not have happened, an official said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2012.