Pakistan On Religious Freedom Blacklist
Pakistan cannot seem to catch a break, there is something or other that keeps popping out that impacts the nation's image. This time Trump Administration placed Islamabad in a religious freedom blacklist. The annual report stated “countries of particular concern” for having engaged in or tolerated “systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom”. It’s a massive reputational blow for Islamabad as it joins an unsavoury club which includes North Korea and Somalia. Pakistan was designated in 2018 after years of US hesitation over concerns the treatment of minorities. Naturally, Pakistan officials were not pleased with the decision and rejected US decision, calling the move ‘’unilateral and politically motivated. Here's what the Pakistan statement read ‘’Besides the clear biases reflected from these designations, there are serious questions on the credentials and impartiality of the self-proclaimed jury involved in this unwarranted exercise’’.