Mehreen Gill
The rights of minorities in Pakistan are a complex and controversial topic. The constitution of Pakistan and the teachings of Islam guarantee the human rights of minorities, including the freedom of religion, expression, and association. However, in practice, minorities face various forms of discrimination, violence, and persecution by some segments of society and the government. The authorities often fail to provide adequate protection or hold perpetrators accountable. The situation of minorities in Pakistan has been influenced by the historical, political, and social factors that have shaped the country’s identity and ideology.
One of the main challenges for the rights of minorities in Pakistan is the legal framework that defines who is a minority and what rights they have. According to the constitution of Pakistan, there are only religious minorities and no ethnic, linguistic, or indigenous minorities. The most recent census data shows that religious minorities constitute about 3.7 per cent of the population, with Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis, Sikhs, Parsis, Buddhists, and others. However, some groups, such as the Ahmadis, who consider themselves Muslims, are declared non-Muslims by the constitution. Religious minorities, such as Christians and Hindus, and others face discrimination and violence, especially under social practices and laws, which are often misused to target them.
Another challenge for the rights of minorities in Pakistan is the social and cultural context that fosters intolerance and extremism. Pakistan has witnessed several incidents of sectarian violence, terrorist attacks, and mob violence against minorities, often instigated by radical groups or individuals. For example, in 2020, a Hindu temple was vandalized and set on fire by a mob in Karak district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, following a dispute over the temple’s expansion. In 2019, a Christian couple was sentenced to death for allegedly sending blasphemous text messages to a Muslim cleric. In 2018, a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, who had spent eight years on death row for blasphemy, was acquitted by the Supreme Court but faced death threats and protests by religious hardliners, forcing her to flee the country. These incidents reflect the deficiency of respect and protection for the rights and dignity of minorities in Pakistan and the influence of extremist ideologies that promote hatred and violence.
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However, despite these challenges, there are also some positive developments and initiatives that aim to improve the situation of minorities in Pakistan. The constitution of Pakistan provides some safeguards and guarantees for the rights of minorities, such as the representation of minorities in the parliament and the provincial assemblies, the establishment of a National Commission for Minorities, and the allocation of a 5 per cent quota for minorities in government jobs and educational institutions. The government has also taken some steps to address the grievances and demands of minorities, such as the restoration and renovation of minority places of worship, the declaration of public holidays for minority festivals, the recognition of the Sikh Marriage Act, and the issuance of identity cards to transgender people.
Moreover, civil society groups, human rights activists, lawyers, journalists, and minority leaders have been advocating and campaigning for the rights of minorities, raising awareness, providing legal aid, and challenging discriminatory laws and practices. Some examples of such efforts are the Citizens for Democracy, a coalition of civil society organizations that works to reform the laws; the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, an independent watchdog that monitors and reports on human rights violations; and the Cecil and Iris Chaudhry Foundation, a non-governmental organization that provides education and empowerment to minority children and women.
Lastly, the rights of minorities in Pakistan are a matter of concern and debate, as minorities face various challenges and threats to their human rights but also have some opportunities and avenues to seek justice and equality. The rights of minorities in Pakistan are not only a legal and constitutional issue but also a moral and ethical one that requires the commitment and cooperation of all stakeholders, including the government, the judiciary, the media, the civil society, and the majority community, to respect and protect the diversity and pluralism of the country.
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