Lahore (AsiaNews) – To mark UN Human Rights Day, celebrated today, Minority Concern, a UK-based activist NGO dedicated to the protection of minorities, issued an appeal yesterday for “concrete and measurable steps to protect and promote the rights of religious minorities” in Pakistan and to remind the world of the principles contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (OHCHR).
The group notes that despite Pakistan’s commitments to these principles, "significant gaps" remain in the protection of minorities, who are still victims of discrimination, violence, and socioeconomic marginalisation.
“Human Rights Day is not merely symbolic; it is a moment of accountability," said Aftab Alexander Mughal, director of Minority Concern. “Pakistan’s minorities deserve equal dignity, equal protection, and the full opportunity to participate in national life.”
The NGO highlights several areas where action is needed, most notably greater legal protections for religious and ethnic minorities, including the enforcement of constitutional guarantees; preventing the misuse of laws, including legislation that endangers minority communities; ensuring justice in cases of violence, forced conversions, discrimination, and targeted attacks; promoting inclusive education and social cohesion to counter intolerance and hatred; and expanding the economic and political participation of marginalised groups.
The organisation also urges the Pakistani government to collaborate with civil society groups, human rights defenders, and human rights organisations to align national policies with international human rights obligations.
“If Pakistan wants an inclusive and stable future, the voices and rights of minorities must be at the centre of national priorities,” Mughal warns. “No society can prosper if segments of its population live in fear or exclusion.”
In ending its appeal, Minority Concern reaffirms its commitment to promoting a just, pluralistic Pakistan that respects the rights of all citizens.
Speaking to AsiaNews, Naveed Walter, who chairs Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), expressed concern that, despite efforts to reaffirm human rights values, serious violations are increasingly being ignored.
The activist highlighted the growing persecution of minorities, particularly Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis, and other groups, whose cases often go unnoticed.
He laments the alarming rise in false accusations of blasphemy, which continue to destroy the lives of innocent people. Incidents of violence, imprisonment, attacks, and abductions of Christian and Hindu girls and young women require “urgent attention”.
Naveed Walter stressed that the theme of this year's UN Human Rights Day campaign, “"Our Everyday Essentials”, requires renewed attention, action, and solutions to protect victims and support affected families.
The activist noted that collective efforts are needed to address abuses based on religion, gender, race, and ethnicity. For him, progress is possible when stakeholders actively work to promote, protect, and enforce human rights for achieving the goals of a society where everyone can live with dignity, respect, and freedom.
Finally, the HRFP president welcomed the passing of the National Minorities Commission Bill 2025, an initiative long supported by human rights defenders.
However, the NGO also expressed concern about the independence of these bodies vis-à-vis the government, stressing that the legislation is ineffective without fair implementation.
Ata-ur-Rehman Saman, coordinator of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, spoke to AsiaNews “amid a declining overall human rights situation in Pakistan.”
“I hope the new year will bring progress in realizing the rights of all people, particularly religious minorities in Pakistan. During the last year, the democracy has been weakened because political parties have lost their strength.”
For him, “To strengthen human rights situation, the state should give more power to democratic parties and let them work for the progress and promotion of human rights values. Only democracy has the power to deal with issues like terrorism, human rights violations, poverty and inflation, let it flourish and prevail in the country."
