Islamabad, February 5: Allegations have emerged that the Christian minority community in Pakistan’s Punjab province is being targeted under an anti-drug campaign.
Leaders from the Christian community in Faisalabad have accused the police of discriminatory actions and linking their community to drug-related activities. Local media reports indicate that raids have been conducted on members of the Christian community over the past two months, with claims of fabricated narcotics cases being filed against them.
During a press conference at the Faisalabad Press Club, Lala Robin Daniel, head of the Minority Rights Movement, along with other Christian leaders, expressed their support for action against drug abuse. However, they oppose the “targeted narrative” that portrays Christians as the epicenter of drug activities. This information was reported by a platform covering human rights issues.
The leaders allege that substances like heroin, hashish, and ‘ice’ are being unjustly linked to the Christian community through baseless police cases and social media campaigns. They warn that such initiatives could portray the entire community as criminals and exacerbate social prejudices. They have called on the administration to intervene and ensure transparency in law enforcement and intelligence reporting.
The press conference also highlighted that religious minorities are legally permitted to buy and sell alcohol, making it a violation of the law to detain individuals by labeling it as a “drug.” The leaders stated, “If the police or any state entity declares alcohol a drug and campaigns against it, it would be a direct violation of the law.”
Lala Robin Daniel accused the authorities of filing false and discriminatory cases against members of the Christian community under narcotics laws, particularly Section 9(c). He remarked, “Our community is being targeted through fabricated drug cases,” describing the situation as “extremely dangerous” for the minority group.
Daniel claimed that despite having valid licenses for alcohol, members of the Christian community are being falsely accused of trafficking substances like heroin, ice, and hashish. He stated, “This campaign of false cases could tarnish the reputation of the entire Christian community.”
He further alleged that the police are filing false cases against the Christian community to inflate drug-related statistics. According to Daniel, “Many members of our community are currently facing fabricated narcotics cases.”