Pakistan Christians Remain Resilient Despite Persecution, Rank 7th On Global Watch List (Worthy News In-Depth)

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

ISLAMABAD (Worthy News) – Despite what advocates describe as decades of persecution, discrimination, and insecurity, Pakistan’s Christians remain steadfast in their faith and committed to peaceful coexistence, a leading Christian rights advocate said Friday.

“Rather than responding to injustice with violence or withdrawal, they have demonstrated resilience, unity, and an enduring commitment to human dignity. Churches and community institutions continue to serve as centers of education, social support, and reconciliation,” said Sardar Mushtaq Gill, founder of advocacy group LEAD Ministries.

He spoke after recent attacks and killings reignited fears within Pakistan’s Christian community, which numbers an estimated 2 to 3 million people in the Muslim-majority nation of more than 240 million.

“This perseverance in the face of systemic exclusion highlights not only the moral strength of the Christian community, but also the urgent responsibility of the Pakistani state and the international community to ensure protection, equality, and justice for all citizens without distinction,” Gill told Worthy News.

He said Christians are “Pakistani citizens in name but excluded in practice.”

LEGACY OF SERVICE MET WITH DISCRIMINATION

Gill also referred to his own experiences. Years ago, he was forced to flee his home after receiving death threats from Islamic extremists because of his Christian advocacy work, Worthy News reported earlier.

The Christian advocate and human rights lawyer noted that Christians historically played a foundational role in Pakistan’s education and health care systems, establishing respected schools, colleges, and hospitals that have served generations without discrimination.

Yet, he said, the community remains among the most disadvantaged in the country, facing social exclusion, economic hardship, and targeted violence. Churches have been attacked, homes burned by mobs, and individuals imprisoned or killed following accusations under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.

Those laws criminalize insults against Islam, the Quran — deemed a holy book by Muslims — and the Prophet Muhammad, regarded in Islam as Allah’s final prophet. Section 295-C of Pakistan’s Penal Code mandates the death penalty for defiling the Prophet Muhammad’s name.

Although executions have not been carried out for blasphemy, accusations frequently trigger mob violence, vigilante killings, forced displacement, and prolonged imprisonment, according to rights groups.

EDUCATION BARRIERS, EMPLOYMENTTROUBLES

Human rights organizations have documented cases of forced conversions and marriages involving Christian and Hindu girls, often between the ages of 12 and 18, particularly in Punjab and Sindh provinces. Families frequently report difficulty obtaining justice when courts uphold conversions declared voluntary.

Gill also pointed to what he described as entrenched employment discrimination, saying the five percent public-sector job quota for minorities is frequently ignored, leaving Christians underrepresented in the civil service and other state institutions.

He stressed that educational opportunities have narrowed for many Christians, with elite institutions—many originally founded by Christian missions—now financially out of reach for poorer families. Literacy and higher education participation rates among Christians remain below national averages, rights advocates say.

Gill also criticized state-approved curricula that he said marginalize minority identity and history, arguing that textbooks often exclude the contributions of Christian and other minority communities to Pakistan’s development.

Pakistan ranks seventh on the 2025 World Watch List compiled by Christian advocacy group Open Doors, which monitors persecution in 50 countries where Christians face the most severe oppression. The organization cites blasphemy laws, mob violence, forced conversions, and systemic discrimination in employment and education as major factors behind the country’s high ranking.

OFFICIALS DEFENSIVE AMID CALLS FOR REFORMS

Pakistani officials have consistently said the Constitution guarantees equal rights to all citizens regardless of religion and have defended the country’s legal framework in response to international criticism, though human rights groups argue implementation remains inconsistent.

Gill urged Pakistan to move beyond symbolic gestures and adopt structural reforms, including safeguards against misuse of blasphemy laws, enforcement of minority job quotas, protection against forced conversions, and curriculum reforms promoting pluralism.

He also called on the international community to engage constructively with Pakistan to ensure protection of religious minorities, describing minority rights as a universal human rights issue.

“Pakistan’s moral credibility and future stability will be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens,” Gill said. “The continued suffering of Christians is not only a minority issue; it is a national test of conscience.”

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