A cornered Pakistan in denial mode over pitiable state of its minorities
Undergoing global criticism over treatment of religious minorities in the country, Pakistan government received a jolt in the form of latest designation by the United States under its International Religious Freedom Act. Pakistan was among the 12 nations which were identified as “countries of particular concern" for religious freedom on December 2, 2022. The countries were so designated for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom.
This is not the first time that the United States has called out the role of Pak government and other institutions in suppressing the identity and curtailing the rights of minorities. Earlier, through a report on Human Rights Practices for 2021, the US Department of State had raised serious questions on the tre