[Current Affairs] August 14, 2020 Top Pakistan Current Affairs for Entry Test Preparation

What’s going on? While celebrating Pakistan’s Independence Day, we must also reflect on the plight of religious minorities in the country. “You may belong to any religion, caste or creed, that has nothing to do with the business of the state,” said Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The white strip on Pakistan’s flag represents religious minorities and affirms unity between Muslims and other minorities. However, it seems as if Pakistan has strayed far from Jinnah’s vision and the flag’s symbolism.

Personal accounts: Pakistani blogger, Shehzeen Rehman (i.e. desiwonderwoman) and Instagram platform, Shanakht, started compiling personal stories of religious minorities living in Pakistan. The details are chilling. Minorities who shared their stories have been subjected to targeted killings, aggressive attitudes, and discrimination.

More recently: On Thursday, Meraj Ahmed, a 61-year old man from the minority Ahmadi community, was reportedly shot dead in Peshawar after receiving threats for a while. Ahmed and his brother initially approached the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to complain about an online hate campaign against them due to their Ahmadi faith.

The bottom line: Personal stories and news reports suggest that religious minority groups in Pakistan are living in an environment of fear and oppression.