The United States Department of State’s annual report on religious freedom praises the government of Pakistan for taking several measures to promote religious freedom. It comes down hard on religiously motivated violence and hate speech and raises important points that need to be addressed. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom places Pakistan on its Tier 1 list of countries of particular concerns. India is on its Tier 2, that is one of the countries, which engage in or tolerate violations of religious freedom. Though such reports are often seen as interference in other countries’ internal affairs, they do sometimes provide pointers for soul searching. The authorities would do well to respond to criticism by taking adequate steps to stop violence pegged to religious hatred. The US report says conditions in Pakistan generally “trended negative” in 2018. This being an election year, several parties tried to use the religion card to sway the voters. Several new players emerged who promoted hate speech and violence against religious minorities and politicians. Some politicians, too, fanned such sentiments for petty electoral gains. Even more recently, several parties have tried to invoke religious hatred against the prime minister for making certain comments in his address to the nation. Such practices need to be suppressed sternly. Certain laws, legislated during the Zia era, continue to haunt religious minorities. The report mentions 40 people sentenced to death for blasphemy. The latest addition to the list are two Christians – Qaiser and Amoon Ayub – handed down death sentences in December 2018. Also, forced conversion of Hindus continued to make headlines in the international media. It is noted that the state has legislated the Hindu Marriage Act to recognise and protect Hindu families. The USCIRF report also highlights persecution of people on the basis of religion in Iran, India, China and Afghanistan. It accuses the Indian prime minister of remaining silent on religion-based violence against minorities in recent years. Extremists, it says, have thrived with the state’s permission. India has reacted by calling the report an interference into its internal affairs. Regardless of how other countries react to the report, Pakistan should take the issue of religion-related violence seriously. Lots of people have been killed and many live in fear. In recent days, the courts have pronounced some commendable decisions including the release of Asia Masih. Other state institutions and the people should also learn to treat religious minorities fairly and help Pakistan be recognised as a pluralistic society. *