Hindus, other minorities in Pakistan face surge of violence...

The mob arrived at around midnight, brandishing clubs. They smashed statues, looted gold artefacts and then set the Hindu temple ablaze.

An accusation of blasphemy sparked the attack in the town of Larkana, human rights activists said, part of a spike in violence against Hindus in predominately Muslim Pakistan.

March was the worst month for attacks on Hindus in 20 years with five temples attacked, up from nine during the whole of 2013, said Life for All, a rights group. But it’s not just Hindus who feel victimised.

All minorities in the country – Hindus, Christians, Ahmadis and even Shia Muslims – feel that the state fails to protect them, and even tolerates violence against them.

Many complain the problem has become worse since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came to power last year.

Non-Muslims make up a small fraction of the 180 million people in nuclear-armed Pakistan. Full story...

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