The Markazi Ulema Council on Thursday vehemently rejected US inclusion of Pakistan in a list of countries violating the religious freedom, declaring that minorities in Pakistan enjoy all rights and are absolutely free to practice their religions. “Pakistan is an Islamic republic whose constitution guarantees protection as well as due rights to all the minorities,” Markazi Ulema Council Chairman Sahibzada Zahid Mehmood Qasmi said in a statement issued on Thursday. He said Islam advocates protection of the rights of minorities as well as the non-Muslims, adding that Pakistan as a pluralistic society where people of diverse faiths live together peacefully. “The proponents of human rights have deliberately closed their eyes to the systematic persecution of Muslims by India, especially in the occupied Kashmir,” Qasmi lamented, adding that the US approach towards the region is purely biased. “US move to target Pakistan in the region has exposed its double standards, however their attempt to pressurize us to fulfill their ulterior designs won’t work anymore,” he asserted, and also questioned why Israel’s name has not been added to the list for persecuting innocent Muslims in Palestine. “Any attempt to establish Indian hegemony in the region will not be allowed to succeed at any cost,” he added. Qasmi stressed the need to promote national unity to thwart international conspiracies to alienate Pakistan in the comity of nations. “Anti-Pakistan forces are out to damage our reputation by painting a negative picture at the international level,” he said, adding that the situation demands national unity, brotherhood, harmony and tolerance in the society. Published in Daily Times, December 14th 2018.