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Pakistan

U.S. Lawmakers Demand Pakistan Cease Targeting Ahmadis and PTI Supporters

The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission convened Tuesday to examine Pakistan’s intensifying political repression, with testimony from human rights advocates and international experts. Witnesses highlighted the persecution of religious minorities, particularly Ahmadis, and the ongoing crackdown on supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Commission convened was led by Co-Chairs Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Rep. James P. McGovern (D-Mass.), to examine Pakistan’s intensifying political repression. The hearing also featured remarks from Rep. Ilhan …

Bodies of Pakistani Hindu Couple Found in Indian Desert

The decomposed bodies of a young Pakistani couple were discovered last week in the desert region of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, about 15 kilometers from the India-Pakistan border. Authorities suspect the pair succumbed to extreme heat and dehydration after illegally crossing into India. According to Jaisalmer police, the deceased were identified as 17-year-old Ravi Kumar and his 15-year-old wife, Shanti Bai. Identification documents and a phone with a Pakistani SIM card found near the bodies helped confirm their identities. The couple hailed …

Pakistan Army Reaffirms Commitment to Interfaith Harmony and Equal Rights

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), emphasized Sunday that followers of all religions in Pakistan are equal citizens with full constitutional rights. Speaking at an event in Karachi, he stressed that national unity is built on equality and harmony. “The Constitution guarantees equal rights to all citizens, and no individual or group has the authority to declare jihad. This is solely the prerogative of the state,” Lt. Gen. Chaudhry said. Addressing representatives from various …

Forced Conversions of Hindu Minors in Sindh Spark Outrage

The alleged conversion of three Hindu sisters and their male cousin to Islam in Sindh’s Sanghar district has triggered an outcry from the local Hindu community, who claim the conversions were coerced and orchestrated. The incident came to light on Wednesday when the four individuals — including minors aged 13 and 16 — left their home without informing their families. By the evening, they released video messages claiming they had willingly embraced Islam. However, their parents and community leaders have …

Senator Pervaiz Rasheed Condemns Religious Discrimination, Calls for Equal Rights

In a passionate speech during the fifth day of the Senate’s budget session on June 18, 2025, Senator Pervez Rasheed condemned the alleged police investigation of an elderly woman’s religious beliefs during Eid-ul-Adha, calling it a gross violation of human dignity and constitutional rights. Rasheed referred to a video showing the woman being interrogated by authorities in her own home. “In what state is authority given where an individual has to answer as to where the sacrificial meat in their …

Pakistan Nominates Trump for 2026 Nobel Peace Prize

The Government of Pakistan has announced its formal recommendation of U.S. President Donald J. Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, citing his decisive diplomatic intervention during the 2025 India-Pakistan crisis. Pakistani officials praised Trump’s leadership in de-escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations, calling his efforts a testament to his commitment to global peace. The crisis erupted following what Pakistan described as “unprovoked and unlawful” aggression by India, which it said violated Pakistan’s sovereignty and resulted in civilian casualties, …

Trump to Host Pakistan Army Chief for Lunch

President Donald Trump’s schedule for Wednesday includes a closed-door lunch with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and the swearing-in of the new U.S. Ambassador to France and Monaco. At noon, Trump is set to participate in the swearing-in ceremony for the Ambassador to the French Republic and the Principality of Monaco. The ceremony will take place in the Oval Office and is closed to the press. Following the ceremony, Trump will host a private lunch meeting with the Chief of …

PIA Begins Repatriation of Pakistanis Stranded in Iran

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Sunday began repatriating Pakistani nationals stranded in Iran as tensions between Israel and Iran continue to rise. A PIA spokesperson confirmed that a special flight was dispatched to Mashhad, a northeastern Iranian city, to evacuate Pakistani pilgrims and other citizens affected by the deteriorating security situation in the region. The repatriation efforts come amid heightened fears of potential fallout from the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, which has raised security concerns and disrupted travel across the Middle …

Census shows Ahmadi population on the decline in Pakistan

According to 2017 Census numbers released by Pakistan, the total population of Ahmadis declined by 35% in 19 years. The Census numbers show that, from 1998 to 2017, Pakistan lost about 104,000 Ahmadis. During the 1998 census, Ahmadis made up 0.22% of the total population, with 291,175 residents. Meanwhile, in the recent 2017 census, that number dropped to 186,916, making them just 0.09% of the total population of 207.68 million. The sharp deterioration in the Ahmadi population signals mass migration …

Pakistani mob attacks funeral of Ahmadi woman

A mob led by right-wing Muslim clerics attacked the funeral of an Ahmadi woman in Pakistan’s northwestern region on Sunday. The minority Ahmadis were gathered in Chak 79 in the northwestern state of Punjab for a funeral service of an Ahmadi woman. As the Ahmadis entered the local cemetery, a mob of locals burst into the burial grounds, pelted stones at mourners, and beat them with sticks. However, the Ahmadis stood their ground and completed the burial. The whole incident …

Pakistani Minister says life in danger after being called ‘Qadiani’

A Pakistani Minister who was called a “Qadiani” by a fellow politician has filed a Police case saying his life is in danger. During media appearances on May 19th and May 26th Nazir Chohan had claimed that Minister Shazad Akbar belonged to the “Qadiani group” and was not a Muslim. Reacting to the claims, Akbar, who serves as Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior and Accountability, lodged a Police complaint against Chohan on Sunday. In the police report, Akbar …

Pakistan police demolish minarets of Ahmadi Mosque

Pakistan police demolished minarets of an Ahmadi mosque on the outskirts of Gujranwala after local Muslims complained that the Islamic inscription on the Mosque hurt their feelings. The complaint against the Mosque in Garmula Virkan was filed earlier this year on January 25th by a resident named Sajad Virk. Virk complained that the Ahmadis had put up Islamic verses on their worship place which were offensive towards Muslims, and this act of the Ahmadis could cause a riot. In his …