• Source:JND
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A disturbing incident in Sindh has once again highlighted the systemic discrimination faced by Pakistan’s minority communities. Dolat Bagri, a young man from the marginalised Hindu Bagri community, was brutally assaulted for simply visiting a roadside eatery for lunch. According to The Express Tribune, the hotel owner and several other individuals objected to his presence, tied his hands and feet with rope, beat him mercilessly, and looted Rs60,000 from his pockets.

A video of the assault circulated widely on social media, prompting public outrage and demands for police action. Despite registering a First Information Report (FIR), no arrests have been made.

Before the case was lodged, a petition had been filed in the District and Sessions Court of Jamshoro against the local SSP and SHO for failing to take appropriate action. It was only after this legal intervention that authorities filed a case naming seven individuals, including Fayyaz Ali, Arshad Ali, Moeen Ali, Shafi Muhammad, Niaz, Dar Muhammad, Ikram, and the hotel owner, for assault and robbery.

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Human Rights Groups Slam Pakistan’s Minority Abuse

Activists and legal observers have condemned the incident as a clear example of Pakistan’s systemic neglect and institutionalised bias against Hindu minorities. Simple acts, such as eating at a public dhaba, are sometimes met with harassment and violence, particularly against marginalised groups like the Bagris, who face widespread social exclusion.

Human rights advocates, including Dr. Sharma, described Pakistan’s treatment of minorities as a form of “religious apartheid,” calling on the global community and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to demand immediate accountability and implement protective mechanisms for persecuted groups.

The incident is part of a broader pattern of religious intolerance in Pakistan. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has repeatedly condemned Pakistan for systematic persecution of the Ahmadiyya community, forced conversions, and blasphemy-related violence.

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Reports document a surge in attacks against Ahmadis in 2025, including the demolition of three mosques in Punjab in February, a mob attack on another mosque in April resulting in the lynching of activist Laeeq Cheema, and targeted killings in Karachi and Sargodha.