Lahore:
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has welcomed certain government measures as positive steps, including the adoption of the law on restraint from children marriage 2025 and the establishment of provincial research centers to counter violent extremism.
According to the Commission, the initiatives mark important progress towards the protection of religious freedom and minority rights.
In his latest report, “Streets of Fear: Religion of Religion or Faith in 2024/25,” HRCP revealed a disturbing increase in violence against religious minorities in the past year.
The report highlighted incidents with targeted murder, demolition of worship sites, forced conversion and marriage to minor Hindu and Christian girls and an increase in hatred, warning that trends constitute serious threats to religious freedom in Pakistan.
The report expressed an alarm over two cases of “extracurricular murder” by police and described them as “deeply cool”.
In both cases, persons charged with blasphemy, protection against violent mob, sought only to be shot dead by law enforcement authorities themselves.
HRCP said such events emphasize the urgent need for police reforms and stronger mechanisms of responsibility.
