Athens, March 15: Serious concerns have been raised regarding the safety of religious minorities in Pakistan. A recent report indicates that communities such as Shia, Ahmadiyya, and Hazara are increasingly targeted amid rising communal violence, with the government failing to provide adequate protection.
According to a report by the Athens-based organization Directus, the Pakistani government has not taken effective action against the misuse of security and intelligence agencies, while extremist groups continue to target religious minorities.
The report references a suicide attack last month at a Shia mosque in Islamabad, which resulted in the deaths of 36 Shia community members and left around 170 injured. This incident has highlighted the insecurity faced by minority Muslim communities in Pakistan.
The Shia community constitutes approximately 10 to 15 percent of Pakistan’s population but frequently faces persecution and deadly attacks from the majority Sunni groups.
Shia leader Raja Nasir Abbas Jafari stated that such a terrorist attack in the federal capital not only reflects a serious failure to ensure public safety but also raises questions about the administration and law enforcement’s effectiveness.
The report notes that Shia, Hazara, Ahmadiyya, Ismaili, Dawoodi Bohra, Zikri, Sufi, and Barelvi Muslim communities are consistently facing communal violence, discriminatory laws, and weak legal protections. Their places of worship are often at risk of attack.
Citing the International Crisis Group, the report mentions that attacks on minority Muslim communities by Sunni extremist groups in Pakistan have increased, partly due to the government’s failure to take effective action against groups spreading communal hatred.
In many cases, the lack of prosecution against those accused of communal violence has created an environment that indirectly encourages such attacks.
The Ahmadiyya community, frequently targeted, is also highlighted in the report. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Canada referenced a shooting incident at an Ahmadi mosque in Lahore in October 2025, describing it as another example of ongoing violence and state-supported discrimination against the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan.
The United Nations Human Rights Office has previously condemned the desecration of Ahmadi graves and minarets, as well as the demolition of a 100-year-old mosque in Daska, Punjab.
The report also indicates that the Ismaili community in Pakistan has been targeted by Sunni extremists. Nearly a decade ago, an attack on a bus traveling to Karachi resulted in the deaths of at least 43 Ismailis.
According to the report, leaflets found at the attack site threatened that the attackers would not rest until the community was eradicated and Islamic Sharia was enforced.
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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