RELIGIOUS minorities in this country often find themselves marginalised and persecuted by both state and society.

This was evident recently in the horrific case of a Christian man who was compelled to jump from the fourth floor of the FIA office in Lahore after reportedly refusing to sexually assault his cousin — an accused in a blasphemy case who is charged with posting objectionable material on Facebook.

Miraculously, Sajid Masih survived with fractured legs and a broken jaw to tell his bone-chilling story.

While interrogating Sajid, an FIA cybercrime team allegedly tortured him, confiscated his mobile phone and tried to force him to assault his cousin. The thought itself is utterly contemptible: how can elements of the state misuse their authority to denigrate people, defenceless minorities among them, in such a manner? How can they push them towards the abyss?

Sinking to this new low of abhorrence for religious minorities is not surprising when the tyranny of an intolerant majority is visibly encouraged by certain politicians, even lawmakers.

Further, the complainants in this case, the religious outfit TLYRA, recorded their statements at the same time the accused and his family were at the FIA office which is right before Sajid jumped from the fourth floor.

Therefore, the urgency for a thorough investigation to ascertain the truth behind this sordid episode and identify the culprits and instigators cannot be stressed enough. It is only when the guilty in this case, and in many other instances where injustice in the name of religious intolerance is deemed kosher, are brought to task that religious minorities in this country can heave a sigh of relief.

When the blasphemy law is misused to persecute minorities for their faith or to settle personal scores — as evidence overwhelmingly indicates — state oversight must ensure severe punishment for the culprits.

Then, over the weekend as Rome’s ancient Coliseum was lit up in blood red in solidarity with persecuted Christians globally, we were reminded by the family of Aasia Bibi — condemned to death in 2010 under the blasphemy laws — that the fate of Pakistan’s minorities is often one of heartbreak.

If our state seriously wishes to improve its human rights credentials — if just to retain its association with international organisations that insist on better treatment of the country’s minorities — it must ensure security to vulnerable Christians and those of other faiths, and stop ceding space to violent ideologues.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2018