Human Rights Violations In Pakistan - January 2022 - www.ghrd.org
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Shia- Hazara Genocide
Human Rights
Violations
In Pakistan
January 2022
Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
www.ghrd.org January 2022
Introduction
Minorities Abuse In Pakistan
Human rights abuse in Pakistan continued unabated as the atrocities on minority community
remained the prime concern. Gross misuse of the draconian blasphemy law complemented by
an equally continues to embolden the radicals who use it as a coercive measure to enforce their
ideologies on minority communities in Pakistan.
In another example of award of death sentence on charges of blasphemy, Zafar Bhatti, a
pastor, was sentenced to death on blasphemy-related charges. He was arrested in July 2012
after being accused of sending text messages insulting the Prophet Mohammed's mother.
There are reports that Bhatti was tortured into confessing. In May, 2017 Bhatti was sentenced
to life in prison for “insulting the Prophet Mohammad” (Sec. 295-C). On June, 2021, Bhatti's
conviction was upheld by a session's court judge in the Rawalpindi District. Bhatti has lodge an
appeal to the High Court, but such sessions have been repeatedly delayed. In January 2022, the
British Asian Christian Association reported that the Rawalpindi Sessions Court had sentenced
Bhatti to death.
Pakistan continues to exhibit itself as a narrow minded, intolerant society that has no place for
religious minorities. A day in Pakistan does not pass without news of enforced disappearances,
forced conversions, killings of minority community members. In one such incident, clergyman
Anglican Reverend William Siraj was killed after being hit by gunshots fired by some unknown
motorcyclists while he was returning home after Sunday liturgy in a car together with Reverend
Patrick Naeem. Reverend Naeem was also injured in the ambush.
In another example of hate killing, a Hindu trader named Sunil Kumar was brutally murdered in
Sindh on January 05. Another Hindu man, named Pahlaj Kohli from Sindh was also killed in
Pakistan. He was arrested by the police in a bogus case and was tortured and brutally killed.
A 16 year old Hindu girl was abducted, sexually assaulted and murdered by three unknown
Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
www.ghrd.org January 2022
men in Sindh province. The incident came to light when the body of the girl named Nageena
Chandio was found dumped in a farm near Mehar town. Roshan Chandio, father of Nageena
had lodged an official complaint at the Mehar Police Station after his daughter went on January
19th. The strangulated body was found in an abandoned place near Sindhi Buttira and was
shifted to Mehar Hospital, where her parents identified her body.
Destruction and desecration of religious places of minority community is a common
occurrence in Pakistan. In one such occurrence, the Pathan community attacked the houses of
the Hindu community. The temples were vandalized and cranes used to demolish houses. The
Pathans carried heavy weapons and guns harassing women and children and threatening
Hindus to leave their land in Hala Naka, Hyderabad, Sindh.
Pakistan has been the flag-bearer when it comes to silencing the voice of journalists. A series of
alleged meritless charges have been brought against a number of independent journalists and
human rights defenders in Pakistan. In this case, Hasnain Shah, known for raising the voice for
justice, was shot dead in broad daylight by two unidentified men on motorcycles in front of the
Lahore Press Club. The shooters opened straight fire on him and seven bullets hit him in the
chest that resulted into his instant death.
Pakistan government has been lambasted by Human Rights Watch (HRW) in its Annual World
Report 2022 for expanding a crackdown on dissent by citizen, journalists and opposition
politicians. The report stated that there is “climate of fear” amongst journalists when covering
alleged rights abuses by the government.
Pakistan government needs to realize that journalism constitutes a necessary service for any
society, as it provides individuals and society as a whole with the necessary information to allow
them to develop their own thoughts and to freely draw their own conclusions and opinions. It is
considered to be the fourth pillar of democracy. Therefore, attacks on journalism are
fundamentally at odds with protection of freedom of expression and access to information
guaranteed by laws under a true democratic state.
INDEX Christian Community In Pakistan Hindu Minorities Miscellaneous Incidents
Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
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Attacks On Christian Community In Pakistan
Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
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Christian Man Sentenced Death
Zafar Bhatti is imprisoned and sentenced to death on
blasphemy-related charges. On July 22, 2012, Bhatti,
a pastor, was arrested after being accused of sending
text messages insulting the Prophet Muhammad's
mother. There are reports that Bhatti was tortured
into confessing. On May 3, 2017, Bhatti was
sentenced to life in prison for "insulting the Prophet
Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C).
Church In Chains reports instances of violence
targeting Bhatti during his prison stay. On June 22,
2021, Bhatti's conviction was upheld by a session's
court judge in the Rawalpindi District. Bhatti has
lodged an appeal to the High Court, but such sessions
have been repeatedly delayed.In January 2022, the
British Asian Christian Association reported that the Rawalpindi Sessions Court had sentenced Bhatti
to death.
[https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Christian-man-jailed-for-blasphemy-has-life-in-prison-
commuted-to-the-death-penalty-54942.html]
Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
www.ghrd.org January 2022
Anglican Reverend Killed, Christians United In Grief
The entire community of Pakistan is in shock after
the attack in which the Anglican Reverend William
Siraj was killed yesterday in Peshawar. The
clergyman was hit by gunshots fired by some
motorcyclists near Ring Road while he was returning
home after Sunday liturgy in a car together with the
Reverend Patrick Naeem, whose coadjutor Siraj was.
Reverend Naeem was also injured in the ambush.
Siraj was 75 years old and was ministering in a
church in Chamkani, which is located in Gulbahar
district, not far from the site of the assault.
[https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Peshawar:-
Anglican-reverend-killed,-Christians-united-in-grief-
55035.html]
Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
www.ghrd.org January 2022
Protest In Pakistan Following Child Abductions
2022 has only just begun and at least four Christian girls have been abducted this year in Pakistan.
The Union of Catholic Asian News reports how Pakistani human rights groups have had enough. The
chairman of Voice of Justice called the law enforcement agencies incompetent for being unwilling or
unable to convict the kidnappers and rapists.
[https://www.persecution.org/2022/01/28/protest-pakistan-following-child-abductions/]
Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
www.ghrd.org January 2022
Pakistani Court Sentences Woman To Death For
WhatsApp 'Blasphemy'
A Pakistani court has sentenced a Muslim woman to death for committing “blasphemy” by sharing
images deemed to be insulting to Islam's Prophet Muhammad and one of his wives, also considered a
holy personage by many Muslims.
The blasphemous material which was shared/installed by the female accused on her status [on
WhatsApp messaging platform] and the messages as well as caricatures which were sent to the
complainant.
Ateeq, 26, had pleaded not guilty to the charges said the accuser, Hasnat Farooq, had deliberately
pulled her into a religious discussion to frame her after she refused “to be friendly” towards him. The
two had met on a popular online multiplayer game and continued communicating on WhatsApp.
Ateeq's death sentence is subject to confirmation by the Lahore High Court, a forum before which she
also has the right of appeal.
[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/20/pakistan-rawalpindi-court-sentences-woman-death-
whatsapp-blasphemy]
Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
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Hindu MinoritiesHuman Rights
Violations In Pakistan
www.ghrd.org January 2022
Forced Conversion Of Hindu Girls
An underage Hindu girl, Najma Kohli was forcibly converted to Islam & married to Amanullah in Badin,
Sindh. Now, her new name is Fatima Shaikh.Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
www.ghrd.org January 2022
In January, Payal Kumari Meghawar, a 15-year-old Hindu girl, was abducted and forcibly converted to
Islam. After her conversion, she was forced to marry her own captor.Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
www.ghrd.org January 2022
Murder Of A Hindu Businessman
On January 5th, A Hindu trader named Sunil Kumar was brutally murdered in Pir Jo Goth, Sindh-
Pakistan.Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
www.ghrd.org January 2022
Hindu Man Brutal Murder
A Hindu man, named Pahlaj Kolhi from Kunri, Sindh was killed in Pakistan. He was arrested by the
police in a bogus case and was tortured and brutally killed.Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
www.ghrd.org January 2022
Child Abuse
An 8 year old minor named Abdul Naveed has been brutally raped and killed in Naseer Abad, Sindh.Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
www.ghrd.org January 2022
Minor Hindu Girl Abducted And Raped In Sindh, Body
Found Dumped In A Farm
A 16 year Hindu girl was abducted, sexually assaulted and murdered by three unknown men in the
Dadu area of Sindh province in Pakistan. The incident came to light when the body of the girl named
Nageena Chandio was found dumped in a farm near Mehar town.
Roshan Chandio, father of Nageena had lodged an official complaint at the Mehar Police Station after
his daughter went missing on January 19. He maintained that the victim was alone in the house on the
day when she had gone missing. The strangulated body was found from an abandoned place near
Sindhi Buttira and was shifted to Mehar Hospital, where her parents identified her body.Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
www.ghrd.org January 2022
Illegal occupation By Pathan Community Of Hindu Land
The Pathan community attacked the houses of the Hindu community, temples were vandalized, and
cranes were used to demolish houses. The Pathans carried heavy weapons and guns, they harass
women and children and threaten Hindus to leave their land in Hala Naka, Hyderabad, Sindh - Pakistan.Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
www.ghrd.org January 2022
Removal Of Sikh Statue
Sikh General Hari Singh Nalwa's statue removed in Haripur city and square has been renamed Siddique
Akbar Chowk, after protestes by clerics against the statue.Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
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Miscellaneous IncidentsHuman Rights
Violations In Pakistan
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Journalist Gunned Down In Sindh
Local journalist Ghulam Murtaza Shah was shot dead due to a personal dispute between the suspect
and Murtaza in Sanghar district, Sindh-Pakistan on January 13.Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
www.ghrd.org January 2022
Journalist Shot Dead Outside Lahore Press Club
Hasnain Shah was shot dead in a broad day light by two unidentified men on motorcycle in front of the
Lahore Press Club, Simla Pahari Chowk. The shooters opened straight fire on him and seven bullets hit
him in the chest that resulted into his instant death.
[https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/927948-journalist-shot-dead-outside-lahore-press-club]Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
www.ghrd.org January 2022
HRW Slams Pakistan Over Dissent Crackdown, Alleged
Rights Abuses
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has lambasted the Pakistani government in its Annual World Report 2022
for expanding a crackdown on dissent by citizens, journalists and opposition politicians. The report
stated that there is “a climate of fear” amongst journalists when covering alleged rights abuses by the
government.
[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/14/hrw-report-pakistan-dissent-crackdown-alleged-rights-
abuses]Human Rights
Violations In Pakistan
January 2022You can also read
