Risks to Pakistan’s religious minorities will increase

Significance

The country’s religious minorities officially include Ahmadiyya Muslims, who frequently face discrimination by the Sunni majority. Pakistan’s Hindus and Christians also experience social, economic and political marginalisation.

Impacts

• Pakistan’s religious parties will consolidate their support base on the blasphemy issue.
• The main political parties are likely to seek deals with religious parties ahead of the national poll.
• India and Pakistan increasingly will trade accusations regarding discriminatory treatment of religious minorities.