London – Dec 1 – (LatestNewsX) The increasingly precarious state of Sikhs in Pakistan points to a steady erosion of religious liberty, as a growing number of disappearances, forced conversions, and targeted killings undermine the fragile promise of equality guaranteed by the country’s Constitution, the report said on Monday.
The report also warned that a dwindling Sikh population threatens the very survival of historic gurdwaras, because fewer people can sustain their upkeep.
According to Asian Lite, a UK‑based newspaper, Sikhs in Pakistan continue to face deep‑rooted institutional discrimination that strips them of the dignity and security they deserve.
“The recent case of “Sarabjit Kaur,” a 52‑year‑old woman from Kapurthala, Punjab, has again highlighted the precarious position of Sikhs in Pakistan. Kaur, who travelled with a Sikh pilgrims’ group to mark the 555th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, went missing during the pilgrimage. Shortly thereafter, a marriage certificate surfaced claiming she had converted to Islam, adopted the name “Noor,” and married a local resident, “Nasir Hussain.” A video of her alleged Nikah circulated widely on social media, though its authenticity remains in question,” the report detailed.
“Sikh organisations have demanded a transparent investigation, raising concerns about whether her conversion and marriage were voluntary or coerced. This incident is not isolated. It reflects a larger malaise of forced conversions and systemic discrimination against religious minorities in Pakistan. The Sikh community, numbering barely 20,000 in the country, has long been subjected to marginalisation, violence, and exclusion. Their everyday experiences are marked by insecurity, social stigma, and institutional neglect,” it added.
The report stated that, in addition to targeted killings, forced conversions and marriages remain a serious concern. Sikh and Hindu girls—particularly in Pakistan’s Sindh province—are frequently abducted and pressured to convert to Islam.
“Organised gangs, often with clerical backing, manipulate age certificates to legitimise these conversions. In 2017, Sikhs in Hangu district alleged that a government official was pressuring them to embrace Islam. Despite repeated complaints, legislation to protect minorities remains stalled, leaving communities exposed to exploitation,” it mentioned.
Social prejudice, fueled by religious bigotry and vigilante violence, is reinforced through mosques and public discourse, where stereotypes of non‑Muslim traditions are routinely spread.
The report stated that these conditions have created such a hostile environment in Pakistan that thousands of Sikhs have been forced to seek safety abroad, particularly in India.
For those who stayed behind, life is dominated by constant insecurity, struggling to preserve their identity and faith amid systemic exclusion and everyday threats.
“From missing persons to coerced conversions, from targeted killings to systemic discrimination, Sikhs in Pakistan endure a reality where justice is elusive and prejudice unchecked. Unless urgent steps are taken to safeguard minority rights, the community’s survival in Pakistan will remain under grave threat, and the country’s commitment to pluralism will continue to erode,” the report noted.
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