Minority groups hold rights marches in Karachi, Faisalabad and Lahore on National Minorities Day
On National Minorities Day, Christians and other religious minorities gathered in three Pakistani cities to demand constitutional equality and reforms to blasphemy laws.
Marking Pakistan's National Minorities Day, Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis and other minority communities, together with civil-society activists, staged rallies in Karachi, Faisalabad and Lahore. The gatherings featured an 11-point charter demanding constitutional amendments to allow minorities to serve as president or prime minister, curb misuse of the blasphemy law, and create independent minority-rights commissions. In Karachi, over 2,000 participants assembled at Jinnah's mausoleum, displaying images of victims of mob violence and forced conversions.
Faisalabad's rally, led by Catholic lawyer Akmal Bhatti, called for a 5 % quota for minorities in public services and direct elections for reserved seats. Organisers cited recent cases such as the abduction and forced conversion of 16-year-old Aneeqa Ishaq and the broader pattern of discrimination and violence against religious minorities.
Why it matters
The protests highlight persistent religious discrimination in Pakistan and pressure the government to reform laws that affect millions of minority citizens.
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