In a rebuttal to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) report, Pakistan has dismissed its findings as based on “faulty assumptions and unsubstantiated allegations,” asserting that they do not accurately represent the ground realities regarding religious freedom in the country.
During a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch criticized the USCIRF report, which recommended Pakistan as a “country of particular concern” for violating religious freedoms. The report highlighted instances of violence against religious minorities and forced conversions, citing incidents like the Peshawar mosque blast and the murder of a Sikh citizen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Baloch contested the report’s claims, mentioning positive reforms made by the Pakistani government, such as amendments to blasphemy laws and making Islamic studies non-compulsory for religious minorities. She deemed USCIRF’s recommendations unwarranted and futile, questioning the exercise’s credibility due to perceived double standards and geopolitical considerations.
Furthermore, Pakistan strongly condemned Israeli aggression in Gaza, particularly the attack on a Jordanian aid convoy at the Rafah border crossing. Baloch denounced Israeli occupation forces for seizing territory and forcibly displacing civilians, labeling these actions as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Calling for urgent international intervention, Pakistan urged measures to halt Israeli aggression and ensure the protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law. Baloch stressed the need for accountability for the Gaza genocide, emphasizing the international community’s responsibility in addressing the ongoing crisis.
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