The International Religious Freedom (IRF) Roundtable Pakistan held a consultation, where concerns were raised over the continued patterns of religious discrimination. Concerns were also raised over the misuse of blasphemy laws, forced conversions, forced marriages and the targeting of minority women and children. During the event, the participants reviewed the current status of religious minorities in Pakistan. Faith leaders, human rights advocates, journalists, and civil society representatives called for stronger protections for Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and religious minority communities.

During the meeting, the participants also echoed concerns raised by international religious freedom experts, who have warned of widespread patterns of kidnapping and forced religious conversion through marriage impacting women and girls from minority communities in Pakistan. They voiced concern over the misuse of blasphemy laws, including reports that hundreds of people have been falsely accused through blackmail, intimidation and extortion.

During the consultation, the participants spoke about the recent legislative developments, including the introduction of minority-rights and communal-property protection bills in Punjab and the passage of the National Commission for Minorities Rights Bill 2025 by Pakistan’s Parliament in 2025. However, they stressed that legislation must be implemented on the ground and demanded accountability.