In human and subhuman practices- killings, abduction, torture and rape-make their life hell. Minorities in Pakistan can be categorized as ‘ethnic and linguistic’ and ‘religious’. The 1973 Constitution used the term ‘minority’ on several occasions but never defined it. Government views minorities on religious lines only without differentiating along ethnic, racial or linguistic as evidenced in recent national census.

Christians, Hindus, Ahamaddiyas, scheduled castes and others (including Sikhs and Parsis) are officially and constitutionally recognized as religious minorities. As per 1998 census, religious minorities constituted 3.72 pe cent- Christians (1.9%) and Hindus(1.6%) -and predominant 96.28 per cent Muslims. Majority of them profess Sunni Islam of the Hanafi school of thought. Minorities contend official figures to be grossly under-representative of their true numerical strength.

Ishtiaq Ahmed’s book (2011), quoting independent studies, puts minority’s population at nearly 10 per cent; Hindus and Christians making up four million each. Founder Jinnah did not envisage an Islamic state so Pakistan became the homeland for all religious minorities but induction of a series of anti-blasphemy offences in Penal Code providing jail term and later on, the death penalty for criticism of the Prophet changed all that.

Islamization process aggravated with Zia-ul-Haq’s imposition of Hudood Ordinances- an exclusively Islamic code- which played havoc as women and religious minorities were targeted and victimized. Amnesty International urged Benazir Bhuttoto abolish the terrorising law; she could only achieve moderation.

Nawaz Sharif further Islamized Pakistan through the Shariat bill in 1998 for implementing the Sharia; its arbitrary natures, severity of punishment and exploitation by religious extremists attracted enormous international criticism.

Prevailing culture of religious intolerance did not allow Musharraf to modify anti-blasphemy laws substantively.Qisas and Diyat Ordinances became further instruments of discrimination as only the family of the victim, and not the state, could pardon the convicted person, in return for monetary compensation.

Muslim murdering a non-Muslim could pay compensation to the victim’s family and get acquitted, but a non-Muslim, had to face either a prison sentence or the death penalty, deprived of this facility of paying off blood money. Muslims could give evidence against non-Muslims but non-Muslims were barred from giving evidence against a Muslim accused. Recent years have witnessed mounting attacks on the lives,leaders, properties and places of worship resulting in ‘increased social vulnerability’ of non-Muslims.

Terrorists entered the Peace and Justice Institute (PJI) in Karachi, separated Christians from Muslims and executed eight Christians by shooting in the head. Seven people were shot dead at a Christian charity in Karachi; hands tied and mouths covered with tape.

Islamists killed 15 Christians at a church in Lahore. Around 3,000 militant Islamists attacked Christians in Sangla Hill in Pakistan destroying Roman Catholicand United Presbyterian churches and Salvation Army .

Christian schools and homes have not been spared, Churches burnt and Bibles desecrated. A lawyer in Multan representing blasphemy accused was murdered. The Cabinet Minister for Minority Affairs –a Christian—was assassinated; elder brotherforced to flee.

The first Christian news anchor and morning show host fled. Hundreds of Christians are among the blasphemy accused and at least 12 in death row. Poor, defenceless and marginalized Christian girls are the weakest; most vulnerable to rape, harassment and threats.Ribqa Masih, a Christian woman was drugged, kidnapped and raped repeatedly under threat of death for conversion to Islam. The father of a minor Christian girl went to rapist’s family to appeal for justice but was only given money to buy painkillers for the haemorrhaging girl! So much for the barbaric practices as state and society concur.

Christians are constantly under threats of attack and intimidation for forcible conversion to Islam. Mass killings and desecration of Churches in Charasadda in the North West Frontier Province are stark reminders.

Mass anti-Christian violence like Gojra riots (2009), Joseph Colony riot (2013) and Gujranwala riot (2013) have psyched them out. Intense persecution has forced thousands of Christians to flee Pakistan. Pew Research Centre in Washington puts Pakistan among the top most persecuting countries for religious minorities. The Human Rights Watch noted government’s unwillingness or inability to provide protection against extremists’ attacks.

Pakistan is a heady cocktail of a barbaric society, primitive laws and acquiescing government, brewing up a highlyvolatile and insecure society for religious minorities. Stuck to the dark period in history, with dated perceptions on women’s liberty and education, Muslim society is starved of educated girls; poaching from advanced Christian religion for educated women with liberal outlook comes easy.

A Mughal emperor once spoke of Kashmir that if there is heaven on earth, it is here, here, and here. Probably same thing can be said about Pakistan. If anywhere on earth there is hell for religious minorities, it is here, here and here.

(This appeared in New Delhi Times.com on Oct. 3, 2015