CLAAS praises British and European parliamentarians for speaking about the ongoing persecution of Pakistani minorities.

Following the Easter Sunday bombing in which more than 70 people were killed, a plenary session of the European Parliament on April 14 criticised Pakistan’s abysmal record with regard to treatment of the Christians and other minorities.

The MEPs expressed their views on the country’s failure to protect minorities. But this was not the first time the European Parliament discussed Pakistan’s poor record of protecting its minorities.

As well as the Easter attack highlighting the intolerance towards minorities, MEPs called for the abolishment of the controversial blasphemy law and the release of Aasia Bibi who is on death row after being accused of blasphemy.

The MEPs asked the European Union to ensure the protection of human rights of the minorities and other vulnerable groups in Pakistan.

The EU was asked to defend human rights in Pakistan, and exert pressure on Pakistan by using the GSP conditions.

Nasir Saeed, director of CLAAS-UK thanked the British and European parliamentarians who raised the issues.

He said: “It is very sad that the Pakistani government has no interest in Pakistani minorities’ issues. They might verbally they condemn and try to ensure security to their lives, assets and worship places, but Christians are under constant attack and they are being targeted because of their religion.  

“It is the government’s responsibility to protect the minorities and bring changes to the underlining causes, including the police which discriminates and promotes hatred against them.

“Unfortunately, the anti-Christian feeling has been on the increase in Pakistan for the last several decades.”

He further said it is also embarrassing that Christians MPs sitting in Pakistani Parliament for years have never raised any issue and failed to press the government to bring legislation to protect Christians, and under which they can live in Pakistan with dignity.