The abuse of Christians in Pakistan was highlighted at the United Nations with a warning that religious minorities are 'systematically persecuted'.

Shazia Khokhar, a Christian activist from Pakistan, highlighted the case of Asia Bibi who is on death row on charges of blasphemy, according to the Business Standard.

'As a poor Christian, from a low caste, Asia Bibi was among the most vulnerable to get accused and the legal system which in theory should be designed to protect the innocent, failed to protect her in any way,' she said.

'The name, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a complete official name of a country where religious minorities are systematically persecuted. The Islamic Republic is a name given to several states that are officially ruled by Islamic law,' she added speaking at a fringe event in Geneva.

'In Pakistan, once an individual is accused of blasphemy, he is presumed guilty and the law fails to safeguard against people willing to use violence. Blasphemy law also creates an atmosphere of religious intolerance and has contributed to the institutionalisation of discrimination against religious minorities.'

Another Christian woman activist from Pakistan, Salma Bhatti, raised the issue of kidnapping, conversation and forced marriages of young women from the minority religious groups.

She said: 'There are many young Christian girls in Pakistan who are being kidnapped and forcibly married. Later, there are no whereabouts of these women.'