Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws Misused for Extortion and Land Seizures

Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws Misused for Extortion and Land Seizures
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Human Rights Watch reveals that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are frequently abused to target religious minorities and marginalized groups for personal gain, the organization’s website reported. False blasphemy accusations often lead to mob violence, forced evictions, and land grabs, especially affecting Christians and Ahmadis living in informal settlements.

The report highlights how these laws are exploited to settle personal disputes, extort money, and eliminate rivals. Victims face long detentions, unfair trials, and little protection from authorities, who rarely hold perpetrators of violence accountable. Police often arrest the accused instead of protecting them.

Examples include attacks on a Christian beautician’s salon and threats against a school owner demanding money after fabricated blasphemy claims. In 2013, a large mob destroyed a Christian neighborhood, forcing residents to flee amid attempts to seize their land.

Human Rights Watch calls on the Pakistani government to repeal blasphemy laws, release those imprisoned unjustly, investigate attacks, and protect the property rights of displaced minorities. The ongoing misuse of these laws fuels discrimination, fear, and violence against vulnerable communities across Pakistan.