Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission (HRCP) reports that Pakistan’s religious freedom faces an unprecedented threat as Muslim extremist groups increase public servant acceptance.
The report, “The Streets of Fear: Religious Freedom or Convictions for 2024/25,” which recorded such violations of freedom between July 1 and June 30, 2024, said Muslim extremists were increasing the increased pressure on justice and elected officials through propaganda and intimidation.
“From the threat to the Supreme Court’s Supreme Court to public slander of elected representatives, the rise in hate speech shows that it has reduced civic space and boosted the elements of extremism,” the HRCP report states.
The tendency to undermine the independence of legal professions also concerns an increase in the inclination of lawyers by associations to positions alongside Muslim extremist groups.
The report documented extrajudicial killings rooted in targeted killings, forced conversion of minority girls, lynching of mobs, hate speech, blasphemous Sec of places of worship, and blasphemous ASP allegations. The report highlighting several cases of those killed in blasphemous accusations said the trend is deeply troubling in countries that have already witnessed the assassination of the state and governor by his own police security forces.
The report also said it disappeared after being converted to Islam and allegedly married to a Muslim man, and later resurfaced after being able to resurface.
“Sindians and Punjab Christians (1.9%), which make up 8.8% of the population, have repeatedly raised concerns,” the study states. “Fact-finding studies have found that forced conversion and forced marriage remain the most common among planned caste Hindus due to poverty and limited social mobility.”
The report highlighted the role of Sindh-based Muslim clergy cleric Mian Abdul Haq, also known as Mian Mitu, who is accused of using his influence to promote the conversion of minor Hindu girls at the seminary in Gotoki, Sindh. The UK said it approved him in 2022.
The report also cited cases where police were seen flapping wings with aidducttal, claiming that it is haram (banned) to return a girl to her family after Islamic conversion. In July 2024, Faisalabad police recovered Christian Minor Raibasheil, who was accused of in February 2024 and was forcibly converted before being married illegally. Another Christian girl, arena, is still missing. In January, a Mirpurkhas court heard pleas from a couple accused of forcing a minor Hindu girl to convert and marry.
The HRCP stressed that such incidents continue to deepen unrest among religious minorities and call for safeguards to protect vulnerable children and their families.
The report highlighted the misuse of the profanity law to resolve individual scores and seek financial benefits, saying, “Accusations of profanity could be a death sentence.”
“While false accusations continued during the reporting period, many were acquitted by the courts, further acknowledging the malicious intent behind these accusations,” the report said.
In October 2024, Christian sisters Zaima and Sonia, who were accused of in the blasphemous Asp about two months ago, were released on bail by the Toba Tek Singh Sessions Court after considering the evidence. A woman in the village of Tehsil Gojra was accused of throwing a bag containing a sacred inscription into an empty conspiracy.
“Similarly, in June 2025, the Supreme Court ended Anwar Kenneth’s 23-year ordeal after acquitting the 3 judge bench on the ground that he had an unhealthy heart,” the report states. Also, in June 2025, a 25-year-old Christian man named Fahan Masi of Sahiwar was acquitted of a blasphemous asp charges against him under section 7 of the Pakistan Penal Code 295-A and 298-A and section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. I spent nearly five months in the Counter Terrorism Act and prison. ”
The report also showed that mainstream media largely ignores the issue of religious freedom. Even the hearing of the “blasphemous business group” at the Islamabad High Court affected nearly 400 households and was live streamed for four months, resulting in little coverage in the national media. Similarly, he said cases of forced marriage, forced conversion and violence against minorities are rarely headlined.
The report also lists the multiple murders of Laramsa dentist Zakaur Raman (July 2024), Tairabu Ahmad of Rawalpindi (December 2024), Amir Hasan of Naukot (December 2024), Raek Chema of Karachi (April) and Mamad Aziph of Muhammad Aziph (2025). Salgoda (May 2025).
“According to data provided by the Ahmadiyya community, 29 Ahmadi places of worship were attacked and damaged during the review period,” the HRCP report said.
In 26 cases, the dismantling was carried out by law enforcement. These incidents occurred in Okala, Kanewal, Gujranwara, Siarkot, Biari, Sheikhpura, Gujrat and Salgoda, among other parts of Punjab. In January, the historic Sialkot site linked to Pakistan’s first foreign minister and Ahmadi Zafarla Khan was “returned to Kura Rub.”
Despite these challenges, the report acknowledged limited advances, including the passage of the Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025. This is the state law that raises the legal age of girls’ marriage to 18 and establishes a centre based on research on excellence to counter violent extremism.
“The local assembly of Balochistan, Punjab and Khaibang Paktanwa needs to prioritize the passing methods that set the minimum age of marriage for both 18-year-old men and women, and ensure uniformity of marriage ages in Pakistan.” “The reports show that these bills are in various stages of review in each state legislature.”
Among other recommendations, the HRCP urged the federal government to establish an investigation committee based on the findings of the National Human Rights Commission on Confinement in Broken ASP allegations. Authorities also requested that seminaries frequently involved in the conversion of minor girls should be monitored.
Law enforcement said that with intelligence reporting rally, crowd control, early signals of riots and important police training in community police reading, they should be better equipped to protect individuals from mob violence. Furthermore, we should take prompt action against those who incite such mobs.
“As recommended in the previous HRCP report, the government must urgently establish an independent statutory national committee dedicated to the rights of minorities and ensure equal representation of all religious communities.”
Pakistan ranked 8th on the 2025 World Watchlist, where it’s the hardest place to become a Christian.
