Foreign Office says Pakistan adopted wide-ranging measures to promote religious freedom, protect minority rights
\nISLAMABAD
\nPakistan has rebuked the US State Department for designating it as \u201ca Country of Particular Concern\u201d, calling it a \u201cbiased and arbitrary assessment\u201d.
\nThe Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, \u201cWe categorically reject Pakistan\u2019s designation as \u2018a Country of Particular Concern\u2019 by the US State Department. We are deeply dismayed that the designation is based on biased and arbitrary assessment, detached from ground realities.\u201d
\nPakistan, she added, is a pluralistic country, with a rich tradition of interfaith harmony. \u201cIn line with its Constitution, Pakistan has undertaken wide-ranging measures to promote religious freedom and protect minority rights.\u201d
\nRaising objections to the list, Baloch said: \u201cWe note with deep concern that India, the biggest and serial violator of religious freedom, has once again been excluded from the US State Department\u2019s designation list.\u201d
\nThe Foreign Office spox further said, \u201cThis is despite a clear recommendation by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) as well as public concerns raised by international human rights constituencies about India\u2019s maltreatment of religious minorities. This conspicuous omission raises serious questions about the credibility, transparency and objectivity of the entire process.\u201d
\nSuch discriminatory, unilateral and subjective exercises were counterproductive and undermined Pakistan\u2019s shared objective to advance religious freedom globally, she added.
\nIslamabad has urged that the contemporary challenge of religious intolerance, xenophobia and Islamophobia can be best countered through constructive engagement and collective efforts based on mutual understanding and respect.
\n\u201cWith a similar spirit, Pakistan has bilaterally engaged the United States. She concluded that Pakistan\u2019s concerns about the designation are being conveyed to the US side.\u201d
\nBaloch also said that Pakistan strongly believes that the contemporary challenge of religious intolerance, xenophobia and Islamophobia can be best countered through constructive engagement and collective efforts based on mutual understanding and respect. \u201cWith a similar spirit, Pakistan has bilaterally engaged the US.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Foreign Office says Pakistan adopted wide-ranging measures to promote religious freedom, protect minority rights ISLAMABAD Pakistan has rebuked the US State Department for designating it as \u201ca Country of Particular Concern\u201d, calling it a \u201cbiased and arbitrary assessment\u201d. The Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, \u201cWe categorically reject Pakistan\u2019s designation as \u2018a Country […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-379521","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n