Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Diwali greetings to Pakistan’s Hindu minority have drawn sharp criticism online, with many pointing to the country’s shrinking Hindu population and the ongoing challenges faced by the community. The Prime Minister’s message wished for the festival of lights to “dispel darkness, foster harmony, and guide us all toward a future of peace, compassion, and shared prosperity.”
However, this official outreach was met with skepticism and accusations of hypocrisy. Social media users highlighted the dramatic demographic shift since Pakistan’s inception. In 1947, Hindus constituted around 15% of the population. Today, this minority group makes up only about 1.63% of the nation’s 240 million inhabitants, a figure close to 3.8 million people.
Online commentary frequently questioned the sincerity of such greetings, with some users suggesting they serve as a superficial attempt to mask deeper issues of discrimination. Accusations were made that the government was trying to “whitewash genocide” by issuing festival wishes while minorities allegedly face “systematic persecution.”
The plight of Hindus in Pakistan is underscored by recent events. The Mari Mata Temple in Karachi, a historical site dating back over 150 years, was demolished in mid-2023, cited as an unsafe structure. The Hinglaj Mata Mandir, a significant pilgrimage site, has also been targeted.
Statistics on reported violence against Hindus show a concerning picture: 241 incidents in 2022, a decrease to 103 in 2023, followed by a slight increase to 112 by October 2024. These figures paint a grim backdrop for any message of harmony.
Furthermore, Sharif’s inclusive message appears to diverge from past statements by Army Chief General Asim Munir, who emphasized the “two-nation theory” and urged Pakistanis to recognize their fundamental differences with Hindus, stating, “We are two nations, we are not one nation.”