Plight of Religious Minorities in ‘Islamic Republic Of Pakistan’

“You are free, you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or cast or creed – that has nothing to do with the business of the State.”
~ Muhammad Ali Jinnah, first Presidential Address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan in August 11, 1947.

What the Quaid-e-Azam promised and assured has, unfortunately, been sacrificed at the altar of religious politics in Pakistan where the minorities are being stamped into oblivion. Sadly, no one is safe in Pakistan.

This explains how subsequent theocratic regimes derailed Pakistan’s founding father, Jinnah’s vision of equal rights and freedom for religious minorities.
It is safe to say, Jinnah had a dream that never materialized.

Minorities in Pakistan

The Pakistani flag comprises of two colors – green and white; green color shows the majority of the people of Pakistan who of course are Muslims and white color is for Minorities. But the question is with the challenges of religious extremism will the only white strip visible against the much larger green survive with honor and integrity in the days to come?

Percentage wise, the Muslim majority is nearly 96.28 %, while the remaining 3.72% comprises of 1.59% Christians; 1.85% Hindus and 0.33% scheduled castes; 0.35% Ahmadis; 0.01% Sikhs and 0.03% others, i.e includes Parsis, Bahais etc.

Surprisingly, the country formed in the name of Islam is far from being truly Islamic. While it aspired for an empowered Muslim minority in India, ironically it failed to protect minorities on its own land. People so easily tend to forget that such policies of discrimination and injustice are incompatible with the teachings of Islam.

Freedom of religion is laid down in the Quran itself: “There is no compulsion (or coercion) in the religion (Islam). The right direction is distinctly clear from error“. (2:256)
Everyone is free to go to mosques, temples or synagogues in an Islamic state.

Constitutional rights of Islamic Republic of Pakistan

According to Article 25 of Pakistan’s Constitution (1973) ‘all citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law’.
According to article 26 (1) there ‘shall be no discrimination against any citizen on the ground only of race, religion, caste, sex, residence etc. in respect of their access to places of public entertainment or resort’.
Similarly article 27 (1) gives ‘protection against discrimination on basis of religion etc. on appointment in service of Pakistan if he/she is qualified otherwise’.
Article 36 of the constitution provides for the protection of minorities and states that the ‘State shall safeguard the legitimate rights and interest of minorities, including their due representation in the Federal and Provincial services’.
Article 36 is part of Constitution’s second chapter ‘Principles of Policy’ which is a non-operative part of the constitution as the observance of these principles’.

Stop Discrimination Against Religious Minorities

Despite the aforesaid constitutional safeguards, nothing has prevented widespread discrimination, rape and violence directed against non-Muslims throughout the Sindh province. A similar situation has been seen in Balochistan where Hindus living for centuries have faced target killings and increased abductions. There have also been targeted killings and violence against the Hazara Shias in Balochistan.

This leaves people from minority communities with one option: to leave Pakistan.

Jinnah said that Pakistan would be a place for religious experiments. Tragically experiments can go really wrong.
Unfortunately, Jinnah’s dream, to make Pakistan a free country has translated into a license to harass, abuse people in broad day light, torture, steal, and rob. They have the liberty to enter in your house without any hesitation and search it, while beating you. Same is the liberty in Public places. There is full liberty of the military, the rulers, leaders and elites in Jinnah’s Pakistan. As the famous saying by George Orwell goes “all animals are equal; but some are more equal than others.”

There are way too many incidents reported in leading newspapers that shows how Pakistan treats its minorities:

Punjab Christians demand the 'right to pray' in church

Life Could Not Be More Difficult For Pakistan's Ahmadis?

India condemns mistreatment of Sikh police officer, other minority groups in Pakistan

Spate of ‘targeted killings’ has made Sikhs in Pakistan scared and angry like never before

I’m Jewish and Pakistani…let me go to Israel

Ahmadis: slaughter and silence in Pakistan

Putting Pressure on Pakistan to End Its Barbaric Blasphemy Laws and Violence Against Christians

Mentally Disabled Christian Beaten for Praying in Pakistani Jail  

Teen Glasgow Christians terrified to return to Pakistan

Where should a Pakistani Hindu go?

Time for Shias to leave Pakistan

Stop Genocide against Religious Minorities in Pakistan

Given the situation if the Nation carries on treating its minorities this way very soon some new species will be added to the red list:

Extinct species - Jews, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains
Critically endangered - Kalash people and Baha'is
Endangered species - Hindus, Christians and Sikhs
Vulnerable species - Ahmadiyas, Sufis and Shia Muslims
Dominant – Dictators and Zealots

Google or dig up in history books how in 1971, Pakistan imposed its “superior” and “true” Muslimness on Bengalis and this harsh, unreal, unjust, interpretation of what constitutes a Muslim, led to the inevitable Mukti Juddho and Bangladesh.