Pakistan has been recognised as the ‘worst country in terms of religious freedom’.
As a result, the US Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has asked the American government to designate Pakistan as a ‘country of particular concern’ (CPC) citing “egregious” violations.

The US State Department is being urged to further expand its CPC list to reflect the severe violations occurring in seven countries.

CPC designation is given to countries or those governments that “engage in or tolerate” systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.

In its recent report on IRF, the State Department said there is widespread violation of human rights of religious minorities in the Pakistan, particularly with Hindus and Christians.

In July 2014, the State Department designated nine countries as CPCs: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Other countries that are now being asked to be given the same status are Central African Republic, Egypt, Iraq and Nigeria.