Pakistan Punishes Recent Attack on Hindu Temple

At the highest level, Pakistan’s government is signaling zero tolerance for extremist attacks on religious minorities.

“7/23/2019 One Year In: A Conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan”. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan discusses developments in his nation at the U.S. Institute of Peace. July 23, 2019. (photo: U.S. Institute of Peace)

In early August, an eight-year old boy was arrested for blasphemy in Pakistan. Charged with urinating at a seminary, the child, who hailed from one of Pakistan’s minority Hindu communities, was released after two days.

That was when the real trouble started.

Angered by the release of the minor child, a large mob formed and marched to the Hindu temple, intent on destruction. The temple was badly damaged, but the mob was largely prevented from attacking praying Hindus by local Muslim families who intervened on their behalf.

This isn’t the first time Hindu temples have been targeted by religious extremists or mobs incited by them.

For Pakistan’s minority Hindu population, harassment and even violence from religious extremists hasn’t been unusual.