As Pakistan’s army chief turns on hardline Islamist groups, blasphemy cases plummet
Police say registered blasphemy cases fell to 13 this year as riots and attacks dropped after a military-led crackdown on hardline Islamist groups.
- Pakistan's military crackdown, overseen by army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, has pushed fundamentalist groups into the shadows, with registered blasphemy cases dropping to 13 so far this year—roughly two-thirds lower than recent years.
- Officials launched the intervention in the summer of 2025, fearing fundamentalist hostility toward European nations threatened an EU duty waiver covering almost one-third of Pakistan's exports; Munir viewed these groups as incompatible with a progressing Pakistan.
- Police officer Sanghaar Ali Malik confronted a Karachi mob last month, successfully defusing the crowd by quoting the Koran and telling agitators, "No religion allows you to take the law into your own hands."
- Following the rescue, the targeted Christian family is safe and an inquiry found the allegations false; with fundamentalist instigators missing from streets, police have successfully protected minorities during recent incidents.
- Former counter-terrorism chief Ihsan Ghani warned that groups like Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan could re-emerge if their political utility changes, highlighting fragility of recent gains as the crackdown's durability depends on sustained military resolve.
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Did Asim Munir's crackdown on hardline Islamists aim to win over Trump?
Pakistan's crackdown on hardline Islamists has led to a sharp fall in blasphemy cases. Explore whether Asim Munir's shift is driven by security concerns, economic interests or an effort to improve ties with the Trump administration.
As Pakistan's army chief turns on hardline Islamist groups, blasphemy cases plummet
When blasphemy allegations against a Christian family prompted a mob of hundreds to assemble in Pakistan's teeming metropolis Karachi last month, officers knew they might only have minutes to save the four women and one child who were targeted.
Pakistan: Munir Calls On Hardliners After Blasphemy Cases Plummet
When blasphemy allegations against a Christian family prompted a mob of hundreds to assemble in Pakistan’s teeming metropolis Karachi last month, officers knew they might only have minutes to save the four women and one child who were targeted. Islamic Pakistan has witnessed around 90 blasphemy-linked lynchings since 1990, and many started exactly like this. […] The post Pakistan: Munir Calls On Hardliners After Blasphemy Cases Plummet appeared …
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