In a disturbing escalation of tensions in Pakistan’s Punjab province, Christian minority leaders have accused authorities of weaponizing anti-drug campaigns to persecute their community. Faisalabad, a bustling industrial hub, has become the epicenter of these allegations, where police raids over the past two months have disproportionately targeted Christian neighborhoods.
Speaking at a packed press conference in Faisalabad Press Club, Lala Robin Daniel, head of the Minority Rights Movement, alongside other prominent Christian figures, condemned what they call a ‘targeted narrative’ painting their community as drug hubs. ‘We stand against narcotics, but not against this discriminatory witch hunt,’ Daniel asserted, highlighting how heroin, hashish, and ‘ice’ are being falsely linked to Christians through baseless police reports and social media smears.
Local media has documented a pattern: sudden raids, planted evidence, and FIRs under narcotics laws, particularly Section 9(c), which leaders claim are fabricated to inflate arrest numbers. Even legally permitted alcohol sales—allowed for religious minorities under Pakistani law—are being twisted into ‘drug’ offenses, leading to wrongful detentions.
This campaign risks stigmatizing an entire community, deepening societal prejudices in a country where Christians already face systemic marginalization. Daniel warned that such tactics could portray all Christians as criminals, eroding social cohesion. He demanded immediate administrative intervention for transparent law enforcement and intelligence practices.
Human rights monitors have echoed these concerns, noting the raids coincide with broader anti-drug drives but selectively harass minorities. As pressure mounts, activists urge international watchdogs to scrutinize Pakistan’s minority protections. The community vows to fight these injustices legally, calling for accountability to prevent further escalation.