CRM Apprehensive About Rising Religious Fanaticism In Pakistan

Coalition for the Rights of Minorities (CRM), an association of civil society organizations working for security of minorities’ rights, has articulated serious anxiety over a startling tendency of religious fanaticism and extremism in the country.

In a press statement issued by CRM National Coordinator Sameena Imtiaz said that the disturbing tendency of attacks on religious places poses grave risks to social interconnection and the religious freedoms visualized in the constitution of Pakistan. She said the actions were in strong violation of the PPC295 which explains injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class.

She said that the CRSS figures displayed that 13 places of Muslim and non- Muslim worship, including 2 mosques, a seminary, Tableeghi Markaz, Imambargahs, 5 sufi shrines and 3 Hindu temples were defiled during this passé.

Sameena Imtiaz demanded of the government that someone involved in destroying, damaging, or tarnishing any worship place, or any item held holy by any class of persons with purpose of offending the religion of any class of persons “shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine or with both.” She said that culprits of utmost of these misconducts remained anonymous. However, she said that a Hindu has been identified for allegedly insulting the Holy Quran in Larkana. “Alarmingly, almost all religious parties and organizations, even those sitting in the parliament continue to stay silent on these faith-related murders and acts of desecration that are clearly covered by the blasphemy law and PPC295,” she pointed out.

- See more at: http://www.christiansinpakistan.com/crm-apprehensive-about-rising-religious-fanaticism-in-pakistan/#sthash.IlYQhiiD.dpuf