Suffering Minorities

Published August 25, 2012

On Aug 24 about three thousand Pakistani Muslim immigrants gathered at central Syntagma square in Athens, Greece waving their national flag high, shouting slogans and showing solidarity against racist attacks and police brutality. A high influx of illegal immigrants in the European Union has given rise to anti-immigrant Golden Dawn supporters accused of violent attacks on the minority community. The police continue their operations by arresting the undocumented immigrants.

That same day five hundred Pakistanis arrived in Karachi after being deported from Oman. They were detained on charges of illegal economic migration and allowed to return home after a month.

As more and more Pakistanis struggle to improve their lives by protesting for their rights and migrating to other countries in search for better opportunities, the fate of minorities and immigrants in Pakistan remains bleak.

Photos portray the inhabitants of Mehrabad lingering around a mosque near the locked family house of Rimsha Masih, a Christian girl reportedly suffering from Down ’s syndrome who was recently detained in solitary confinement amidst accusations of blasphemy.

Pakistan is also a host to the world’s largest and longest-running refugee population of about 1.7 million Afghans. They live in dire conditions with a third of them residing in camps while the rest are scattered all over the country. Recently the Pakistani government is debating whether to remove their refugee status — a step that would pressure them to go home.

Opinion

Editorial

Shifting climate tone
Updated 08 May, 2026

Shifting climate tone

Our financial system is geared towards short-term, risk-averse lending, while climate adaptation and green infrastructure require patient, long-term capital.
Honour and impunity
08 May, 2026

Honour and impunity

THE Sindh Assembly’s discussion on karo-kari this week reminds us of the enduring nature of ‘honour’ killings...
No real change
08 May, 2026

No real change

THE Indian sports ministry’s move to allow Pakistani players and teams to participate in multilateral events ...
A breakthrough?
07 May, 2026

A breakthrough?

The whole world would welcome an end to this pointless war.
Missed opportunity
07 May, 2026

Missed opportunity

A BIG opportunity to industrialise Pakistan has just passed us by. This has been reconfirmed by the investment...
Punishing dissent
07 May, 2026

Punishing dissent

THE Sindh government’s treatment of the Aurat March this week was a disgraceful assault on democratic rights. What...