Pakistan becoming a more dangerous country, says HRCP report

Islamabad, May 12: "The state of Human Rights in 2013", a 350-page report released in Islamabad by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reveals that the situation is worsening in Pakistan. The report states that Pakistan has become a 'more and more' dangerous country for religious minorities and journalists and has failed to tackle militant extremism and intolerance. In the section on freedom of religion, the report notes that sectarian violence claimed a total of 687 lives in 2013. Seven Ahmadis were killed in pre-mediated attacks, Christian settlements and churches were targeted and a total of 39 people, including Christians, Hindus and Muslims were charged with blasphemy in the entire year. The press grew increasingly unsafe and the report notes, 11 journalists were killed and scores more injured in the line of duty. In addition, those responsible for these heinous crimes remained at large.