WASHINGTON: The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has said it is ‘troubled’ by reports of food aid being denied to Hindus and Christians in Pakistan amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
USCIRF Commissioner Anurima Bhargava said in a statement that these actions are reprehensible. Bhargava said as novel coronavirus continues to spread, vulnerable communities in Pakistan have been fighting hunger and to keep their families healthy and safe.
“Food aid must not be denied because of one’s faith,” said Bhargava.
USCIRF Commissioner also urged the government of Pakistan to ensure that food aid is shared equally with Hindus, Christians, and other religions minorities.
It should be noted that the Hindu community in the country forms a minuscule portion its population and are subjected to rampant discrimination. They are also denied basic human rights in Pakistan.
The USCIRF said that in Karachi there have been reports that a NGO Saylani Welfare International Trust established to assist homeless and workers has been refusing food assistance to Hindus and Christians. The NGO said that the aid is meant for Muslims only.
USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie Moore has said that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan in his recent address to the international community had emphasized the challenge facing governments in the developing world to save people from dying of hunger and to halt the spread of COVID-19.
In its 2019 Annual Report of the USCIRF, it had maintained that Hindus and Christians in Pakistan have faced continued threats to their security. The report had said that these minority communities are subjected to various forms of harassment and social exclusion.
It should also be noted that Pakistan has often been criticized for cracking down on the minorities. (With inputs from ANI)
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