The implementation of the various laws promulgated by the state also remains sub-par and institutional barriers further exacerbate the problem. Weaknesses within institutional frameworks, such as the judiciary and law enforcement agencies, hinder the effective redress of racial discrimination grievances. The absence of clear policies by the government and a lack of training on human rights standards impedes the work of law enforcement. This institutional inadequacy highlights the need for a central government policy, supported by all political parties, to ensure a consistent and uniform approach to addressing religious extremism and mob vigilante violence in the country. Societal attitudes and cultural norms also pose significant challenges to combating discrimination. Deep-seated prejudices and negative perceptions towards certain ethnic and religious groups are pervasive. Public awareness and education campaigns, which are crucial for changing these norms, remain insufficient and ineffective. As a result, discriminatory practices and social exclusion continue to be normalized in many communities, making it difficult to achieve genuine societal change. For example, recent events such as the lynching of Priyantha Kumara, a Sri Lankan man in Silakot,5 attacks on churches in Jaranwala,6 attack on a Christian man in Sargodha for alleged desecration of the Quran, killing of a tourist in Swat on allegations of desecrating the Quran,7 attacks on the Hazara community in Quetta,8 all indicate the grave seriousness of the deep seated religious and ethnic violence that prevails within the Pakistani society. More importantly, they illustrate the lack of public faith in the system of accountability and justice in the country. Moreover, other issues such as discrimination and challenges in employment for minorities and marginalized ethnic groups, and pervasive online hate speech,9 continue to prevail within the country, driven by religious, or ethnic differences. The Committee also noted barriers to access to justice for marginalized minority communities, their prevalence in oppressive economic models such as bonded labor and the violence minority women are subjected to. 5 “Man tortured and killed Pakistan over blasphemy,” available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/03/pakistan-srilankan-man-priyantha-diyawadana-tortured-killed-alleged-blasphemy-sialkot 6 Shaiq Hussain and Rick Noack, “Pakistan arrests 130 people after churches attacked on blasphemy rumor,” available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/08/17/pakistan-blasphemy-church-attacks-arrests/ 7 “Local tourist killed in Pakistan’s Swat over blasphemy allegations,” available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/21/local-tourist-killed-in-pakistans-swat-over-blasphemy-allegations 8 “Pakistani Hazara families refuse to bury dead after attack,” available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/4/pakistanihazara-families-refuse-to-bury-dead-after-attack 9 Preventing hate speech, incitement and discrimination: the case of Pakistan, available at: https://gaamac.org/2022/04/preventinghate-speech-incitement-and-discrimination-the-case-of-pakistan/ 9