Lahore: Prominent Minorities’ Social, Political and Religious leadership held a joint Press Conference on 26 June 2026 at LAHORE PRESS CLUB to express their concerns on the consistent misuse of blasphemy laws, mob violence and attacks on the lives and properties of religious minorities. The leadership condemned the lynching of Nazir Masih of Sargodah and a tourist in Swat after blasphemy allegations.

Participants of the Joint Press Conference included Chairman Rwadari Tehreek Pakistan Samson Salamat, Ex- Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Ejaz Alam Augustine, Spokesperson of Church of Pakistan Very Rev. Emmanuel Khokhar, Bishop of Sahiwal Rev. Abraham Daniel, Moderator Presbyterian Church of Pakistan Rev. Reuben Qamar, General Secretary National Council of Churches in Pakistan Victor Azraiah, Executive Secretary Presbyterian Church Rev. Obaid Khokhar, Chairman Ecumenical Commission Presbyterian Church Rev. Amjad Niamat Members of Punjab Assembly Sonia Ashar MPA and Tariq Gill, Social Activists Sharon Shamir of Human Rights Organization, Ramma Khokhar of Cristian’s True Spirit, Aroon Arthur, Riaz Aassi, Dr. Adoo Ram and others.    

The Minorities Leadership recognized the Resolutions passed by the National Assembly, Punjab Assembly and the Senate of Pakistan to condemn the misuse of blasphemy laws, lynching and consistent attacks on religious minorities, however considering as insufficient, they stressed upon the urgent need for proper legislation along with strong implementation mechanisms. 

The Press Conference Resolved and demanded the following:

-    There should be a GRAND DEBATE in the National Assembly, Senate and the Provincial Assembly on the consistent misuse of blasphemy laws, lynching and violence against minorities, followed by a MINORITIES PROTECTION BILL. We urge the government; political parties’ leadership and all other stakeholders consider this seriously and on emergency basis.

-    Safety and security of the citizens, especially belonging to religious minorities shall remain at stake in the presence of extremist outfits who are operating openly and with impunity. Therefore, the extremist outfits involved in spreading poisonous extremist ideologies, hate mongering and instigation of violence against religious minorities in the pretext of Blasphemy should be banned and there should be stern action against them.  

-   Speedy and fair trial should be ensured of the culprits involved in Jaranwala tragedy and the lynching of Nazir Masih and the tourist lynched in Swat without considering the pressure of the extremist outfits.   

-    This is a sad reality that repeatedly, the police and law enforcement agencies have failed to protect the citizens and their properties from the mob in the context of instigation after blasphemy allegation.  Therefore, effective strategies are urgently required to enhance the capacity and efficiency of the police and other administrative apparatus to minimize the damage. 

-  As a long-term policy, a comprehensive de-radicalization plan should be made, which should include the implementation of hate speech laws in letter and spirit, elimination of biased material from the curriculum, zero tolerance for extremist militant outfits, their financiers, facilitators and supporters.