BEREICH | EVENTL. ABTEILUNG | WWW.ROTESKREUZ.AT ACCORD - Austrian Centre for Country of Origin & Asylum Research and Documentation Pakistan: Religious Minorities March 2021 This report serves the specific purpose of collating legally relevant information on conditions in countries of origin pertinent to the assessment of claims for asylum. It is not intended to be a general report on human rights conditions. The report is prepared within a specified time frame on the basis of publicly available documents as well as information provided by experts. All sources are cited and fully referenced. This report is not, and does not purport to be, either exhaustive with regard to conditions in the country surveyed, or conclusive as to the merits of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Every effort has been made to compile information from reliable sources; users should refer to the full text of documents cited and assess the credibility, relevance and timeliness of source material with reference to the specific research concerns arising from individual applications. © Austrian Red Cross/ACCORD An electronic version of this report is available on www.ecoi.net. Austrian Red Cross/ACCORD Wiedner Hauptstraße 32 A- 1040 Vienna, Austria Phone: +43 1 58 900 – 582 E-Mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.redcross.at/accord This response was commissioned by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Division of International Protection. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it endorse, its content. Table of contents List of Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................ 4 1 Background .............................................................................................................................. 5 1.1 Geography ............................................................................................................................ 7 1.2 Religious and ethnic groups ................................................................................................ 9 2 Legislative framework ........................................................................................................... 14 2.1 Pakistani Law and Sharia.................................................................................................... 14 2.2 Constitution ........................................................................................................................ 15 2.3 Penal Code – Blasphemy laws and Anti-Ahmadi laws ...................................................... 17 2.3.1 Full legal texts of Sections 295, 295A, 295B, 295C, 298 and 298A of the PPC ....... 18 2.3.2 Application of blasphemy laws .................................................................................. 19 2.3.3 Misuse of blasphemy laws ......................................................................................... 21 2.3.4 Consequences of blasphemy accusations ................................................................. 21 2.3.5 Attitude of population towards and reforms of blasphemy laws ............................ 22 2.3.6 Sections 298B and 298C of the PPC, Anti – Ahmadi Laws ........................................ 23 2.4 Marriage Laws .................................................................................................................... 24 2.5 Forced marriages and forced conversions ....................................................................... 26 3 Treatment of religious minorities by state actors ............................................................... 28 3.1 Acts of violence by state actors ......................................................................................... 28 3.2 State discrimination ........................................................................................................... 29 3.3 State protection ................................................................................................................. 33 3.3.1 Mechanisms of state protection................................................................................ 33 3.3.2 Fight against religious extremism and terrorism ...................................................... 37 3.3.3 Madrassas ................................................................................................................... 39 3.3.4 Protection from violence ........................................................................................... 40 3.3.5 Blasphemy cases ......................................................................................................... 42 3.3.6 Forced conversions, forced marriages ...................................................................... 45 3.3.7 Hate speech ................................................................................................................ 49 3.4 Defenders of minority rights ............................................................................................. 52 4 Treatment of religious minorities by non-state actors ....................................................... 54 4.1 Ahmadis .............................................................................................................................. 54 4.1.1 Legal framework ......................................................................................................... 55 4.1.2 Treatment by state actors .......................................................................................... 58 4.1.3 Treatment by non-state actors .................................................................................. 64 4.1.4 State protection .......................................................................................................... 68 4.2 Baha’is ................................................................................................................................. 70 4.3 Christians ............................................................................................................................ 72 4.3.1 Legal framework ......................................................................................................... 73 4.3.2 Treatment by state actors .......................................................................................... 74 4.3.3 Treatment by non-state actors .................................................................................. 76 4.3.4 State protection .......................................................................................................... 81 4.4 Hindus ................................................................................................................................. 85 4.4.1 Legal framework ......................................................................................................... 86 2 4.4.2 Treatment by state actors .......................................................................................... 86 4.4.3 Treatment by non-state actors .................................................................................. 88 4.4.4 State protection .......................................................................................................... 90 4.5 Shia Muslims....................................................................................................................... 91 4.5.1 Treatment by state actors .......................................................................................... 93 4.5.2 Treatment by non-state actors .................................................................................. 94 4.5.3 State protection .......................................................................................................... 99 4.6 Sikhs .................................................................................................................................. 101 4.6.1 Legal Framework ...................................................................................................... 102 4.6.2 Treatment by state actors ........................................................................................ 102 4.6.3 Treatment by non-state actors ................................................................................ 103 4.6.4 State protection ........................................................................................................ 104 4.7 Zikris .................................................................................................................................. 105 4.8 Atheists ............................................................................................................................. 108 Sources ........................................................................................................................................ 110 3 List of Abbreviations AMC Ahmadi Muslim Community ASWJ Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat ATA Anti Terrorism Act ATC Anti-Terrorism Court CNIC Computerised National Identity Card FATA Federally Administered Tribal Areas FIR First Information Report KP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa LeJ/LJ Lashkar-e-Jhangvi NADRA National Database and Registration Authority MOHR Pakistani Ministry of Human Rights MoRH Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony NAP National Action Plan NCM National Commission for Minorities NGO Non-governmental organisation NIC National Identity Card PTI Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf PPC Pakistan Penal Code SMP Sipah-e-Mohammed Pakistan SSP Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan TLP Tehreek-e-Labbaik