Islamabad – In an alarming wave of religious intolerance as many as 18 persons lost their lives in the first three months of this year, statistics compiled by the Center for Research and Security Studies suggest. The CRSS figures reveal that some ten places of Muslim worship such as mosques, madaris, Imambargahs, sufi shrines, and three Hindu temples were desecrated during this period.

This alarming trend of attacks on religious places of works poses serious risks to social cohesion and the religious freedoms envisaged in the constitution of Pakistan, a CRSS statement said. It said the acts were in clear violation of the PPC295 (Injuring or defiling place of worship, with Intent to insult the religion of any class).

The article says that any body involved in destroying, damaging, or defiling any place of worship, or any object held sacred by any class of persons with the intention of thereby insulting 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.’

Perpetrators of most these crimes remain unidentified. However, a Hindu has been identified for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran in Larkana.

Alarmingly, almost all religious parties and organizations ´ even those sitting in the parliament – continue to stay mum on these faith-related murders and acts of desecration that are clearly covered by the Blasphemy law, PPC295, the CRSS statement pointed out.

Details of Incidents