In its annual report on international religious freedom, the US State Department painted a bleak — but true — picture of how religious freedom in Pakistan is deteriorating. The report says: “Violence against religious minorities and between Muslim sects continued. While a small number of persons were involved in violent attacks, discriminatory laws and lack of reform of these laws, the teaching of religious intolerance, and the lack of police protection of minorities and prosecution of perpetrators created a permissive environment for such attacks … Forced and coerced conversions of religious minorities to Islam occurred at the hands of societal actors. Media, particularly the vernacular press, published derogatory reports of minorities.”

Propagating intolerance: Broadcasting might be all about high ratings in Pak, but it also reflects upon those who watch this sort of ‘entertainment’ and boost such programmes’ ratings.