The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) -- a US government-funded agency created to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience and religion -- released its annual report on Friday, listing Pakistan as a 'country of particular concern' (CPC).Countries are placed on the report's list because their governments either discriminate against people for religious reasons or are unwilling or unable to stop religious violence by their citizens. Pakistan joined Iran, Iraq, China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Vietnam, amongst others, as being the worst violators of religious freedoms.
The commission recommends nations that should be considered CPCs to the State Department, which makes the final decision. To date, the State Department has not designated Pakistan a CPC.