Pakistan’s ‘Islamophobia’ problem

Imran Khan has dedicated much energy to the plight of Muslims around the world. Now, his government has finally decided to pay heed to the suffering of its own religious minorities, by putting together a long-planned commission last month. Days after the commission was formed, it was decided to exclude Ahmadis from it.

Since coming to power in 2018, Khan has vociferously spoken up for Muslim minorities, most notably for those in India. In the meantime, Khan has overturned decisions to include a preeminent Ahmadi economist in a financial advisory body, and has now retracted membership of Ahmadis from a commission that merely reaffirms them as a religious minority.

Pakistan is the only country in the world whose penal code bars some Muslims from reciting Islamic scriptures, issuing calls to prayer or preaching their religious beliefs. It is the only state where a Muslim can be sent to prison for coming out as Muslim.