The daily reality of Pakistan’s minorities is staggeringly despondent. They are discriminated against at every turn and wider society’s biases and ignorance put seemingly immoveable roadblocks in their path towards assimilation. They not only have to contend with persecution emanating from a hate filled milieu but also suffer at the hands of formal disenfranchisement as the legal framework itself is stacked against their wellbeing. The travails of victims of the blasphemy law are but the tip of the iceberg when factoring in the second class status of minority citizens. Given this foreboding picture, for a prime minister to take the unprecedented step of attending a function celebrating the Hindu religious festival Diwali does carry symbolic weight. Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, along with other dignitaries from the federal and Sindh government, attended the aforementioned event in Karachi, which was organised by the Sindh chapter of his party’s minority wing and made a speech showcasing his respect for the Hindu community and proferring assurances to protect the rights of minorities. The PM stated that he was committed to forging unity among different religious communities in Pakistan and vowed to provide justice to all minorities in his capacity as a “Prime Minister of everyone”. The speech has been hailed by various minority leaders, even if most belong to the N-League, as a moral boost to minorities. One has to recognise the importance of the participation and speech by the PM, since many public figures in Pakistan are unfortunately virulently attacked and lambasted as un-Islamic by the forces of bigotry. However, it will be facile to overpraise the assurances made by the PM. A cynic would suggest that this entire endeavour was a calculated photo op designed to show up Modi’s India, which is in the grips of anti-minority violence and hate campaigns, and hence lacking in sincerity. At best, this speech and attendance at a Divali function represents the bare minimum. Pleasing speeches and self-congratulatory events will do little to ameliorate the incredibly dismal social reality that besets the minorities of Pakistan. The Hindus of Pakistan, so lavishly praised by the PM in his speech, will find no solace in the words of Nawaz Sharif when they are hounded at all corners and the women of the community are kidnapped and forcibly converted with heartbreaking regularity. Simply saying that the PM will stand up to injustices meted out to the minorities has no significance when no efforts are being made to reform the blasphemy law, which upends lives and entire communities on the basis of false testimonies. If the PM is serious in his intent, he will not stop at making well received speeches; he has to follow his words with meaningful action and mobilise his government to take meaningful action to ensure all citizens, regardless of religion, enjoy equal rights and protection under the law. *