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iolations of the rights of religious minorities have been a chronic blemish on Pakistan’s legal system and social order.
Citizens belonging to various religious minorities have suffered greatly due to the failure of various governments and authorities to fulfill the constitutional promises of equal protection and welfare. Many citizens belonging to faith minorities have suffered on account of misuse of blasphemy laws. Others have faced mob violence, attacks on their places of worship, forced conversions, suicide bombings and systematic discrimination.
Constitutionally speaking, all religious minorities are protected in the country. However, their rights have been compromised too often for this to be treated as a rare aberration. he root cause of discrimination against religious minorities is a system that in some respects does not grant equal status to all citizens. It is imperative that religious minorities are not only tolerated but also considered equal citizens of the state. Only then can there be perpetual unity and concord among all citizens.
This can happen if the people choose democratic models that respect human rights and dignity of every individual. Human rights are the inalienable benefits that cannot be taken away without due process of law. These include right to life, liberty and property but are not limited to those. Freedom of conscience and speech is an essential component of any human rights system. The universal declaration of human rights mentions all the rights an individual and a community naturally possess. Under a fair system acknowledging these rights, all citizens of a country are equal, in theory, if not in practice.
In the historical context this conception of human rights is a modern idea coming to prominence after the reformation and revolutions in Europe. Natural rights and human rights are closely related terms.
According to some religious scholars, non-Muslims living in an Islamic state can have only the rights conferred upon them by the sharia. This concept does not recognise inalienable rights by virtue of being human beings.
Disputes arise when the laws of the land and constitutional arrangements are called into question. Some of the laws cause minority citizens to feel alienated and oppressed.
According to Article 4 of the constitution, “to enjoy the protection of law and to be treated in accordance of law is the inalienable right of every citizen.” Given this brief explanation of rights given in the constitution, one can assume that the state values rule of law and is willing to share this privilege with all citizens of the country. Disputes arise when the laws of the land and constitutional guarantees are called into question. There are some laws in Pakistan that cause citizens belonging to religious minorities to feel alienated and oppressed.
Consider for example, laws related to the freedom of speech. Widespread misuse of blasphemy laws has resulted in an environment of fear in the society so that minority citizens cannot sometimes freely raise their voice for their rights. Lawyers arguing on behalf of blasphemy suspects are often threatened and the accused suspects acquitted by the courts suffer from societal pressures. A high court judge who acquitted a blasphemy accused has been assassinated.
Sometimes minority citizens are threatened for affirming their beliefs and encouraging people to convert to their faith. However, the majority is under no such restraint. A Christian missionary was shot dead for preaching his beliefs.
Discriminatory treatment of religious minorities by the state and the majority community contradicts the vision of the founding fathers of Pakistan, who wanted a pluralistic, peaceful and prosperous country. To make Pakistan livable for its religious minorities, a return to the original ideology of Pakistan is important. A prosperous Pakistan must be a state where in the words of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, “we are all equal citizens of one state.”
The writer is a human rightsactivist. He can be contacted through email on nahirjavedgmail.com