ASIA/PAKISTAN - The Jinnah Institute: "Continuous and constant violence against religious minorities"

Lahore (Ageniza Fides) - "Violence against religious minorities in Pakistan was continuous and constant in the period 2012-2014. Forced conversions, kidnappings, damage to areas of worship, sexual violence and targeted killings are oppressive practices to which minorities are regularly subjected": says a note of the Jinnah Institute, a prestigious independent study Center, based in Karachi, dedicated to the "Founder of Pakistan" Mohammed Ali Jinnah.
In the period 2012-2014 among religious minorities (Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis and others) the Center registered: 265 victims of attacks; 550 families forced to flee; 21 persons indicted for alleged blasphemy; 15 cases of forced conversions; 15 sexual assaults, 20 cases of domestic abuse.
Among the most serious incidents reported by the Institute: the attack on the "Joseph Colony" in Lahore, the suicide bombing in Peshawar, the brutal murder of the Christian couple Shama and Shehzad accused of blasphemy in Kot Radha Kishan. "Besides the persecution of religious minorities - explains the note sent to Fides - they are numerous cases of harassment and discrimination". This situation "has resulted in the displacement of about 550 families of religious minorities in Pakistan", he concludes. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 26/03/2015)