Pakistan has denounced India's recent enactment of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, branding it as discriminatory and prejudicial on religious grounds. This legislation, initiated by the Indian government, extends citizenship rights to undocumented migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, provided they belong to non-Muslim communities and arrived in India prior to December 31, 2014.
While assuring Indian Muslims that the new law won't affect their citizenship status and emphasizing their equal rights, the Indian authorities have faced criticism from Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch. In her weekly briefing, Baloch expressed concerns over the discriminatory nature of the CAA, stressing that it unfairly distinguishes individuals based on their faith.
Baloch further alleged that the CAA operates under the false premise that minorities face persecution in Muslim-majority countries of the region, promoting India as a refuge for such communities. She highlighted Pakistan's own stance on the matter, referencing a parliamentary resolution passed on December 16, 2019, which condemned the law as contrary to international principles of equality and non-discrimination, as well as human rights norms.
In her statement, Baloch urged Indian authorities to cease what she described as premeditated targeting and systematic marginalization of minorities within India. Conversely, the Indian government has consistently defended the CAA, emphasizing its role in granting citizenship while assuring that no citizen of the country will lose their citizenship as a result of its implementation.
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