Civil society urges immediate reforms to end disparity. PHOTO: FILE
Non-Muslim religious groups expressed concern over discriminatory clauses in the Constitution of Pakistan that deny them their fundamental rights and urged the government to take immediate steps to address the issue.
They were speaking at a seminar on ‘Non-Muslim Pakistanis are Equal Citizens in Words, Not in Practice’, organised by Peace and Development Foundation (PDF) here on Tuesday.
Speakers said the constitution discriminates on the basis of religion. To address this anomaly, a charter of demand aimed at recognition and protection of their fundamental rights as equal citizens was presented and approved.
Through the charter, they demanded the removal of “hate content” directed towards non-Muslims in school textbooks.
Educationist Dr AH Nayyar said that there was a need to understand what we are teaching our children through these textbooks. He said that most of our textbooks promote hatred and clearly discriminate between Muslim and non-Muslim.
Participants said that such material is widening the gap between faiths, sects and other communities in Pakistan. Hence, it must be urgently removed from the textbooks.
They expressed concerns over the policy of awarding 20 extra marks to a Hafiz-e-Quran in the public sector boards’ exams, giving an unfair advantage to Muslims over others.
Besides this, the charter said the modality and criteria for elections to the reserve seats for religious minorities in the national and provincial assemblies and local government tiers should be revised and altered to enable each community to elect their own candidate. The number of seats should be increased and a nationwide census of non-Muslims should urgently be conducted with the findings publicised.
Senior advocate Naeem Shakir said, “It is clearly stated in the constitution that a non-Muslim cannot become president, prime minister or hold other key positions.”
The charter demanded that all such controversial additions in the law must urgently be removed.
PDF executive Director Romana Bashir said that in Pakistan, it is very difficult to be a woman and more so from a minority group.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2014.
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Pakistan is living up to the vision of its founding fathers. Don't be envious of our success!
Two nation theory and the ideological frontiers of Pakistan must be protected and nurtured. Imagine where would be China, if it had not believed it their Mao ideology ...they are not throwing away what they have.....Secularism is a huge failure in all parts of the world..there is no real secular country in the world.
Last I checked it is Islamic Republic of Pakistan created specifically for Muslims.
In civilised countries injustice occurs when some choose to flout just laws.
In barbaric countries injustice occurs when unjust laws are enforced.
Examples of unjust laws like Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and Pakistan’s Constitutional law prohibiting Non Muslims from holding the office of President and Prime Minister includse the Nuremberg Edicts of Nazi Germany, South Africa’s Apartheid Laws ,.
Pretty dismal company Pakistan is keeping.
Then there is the question why Muslim Pakistani’s are silent about this gross constitutional injustice being meted out to Non Muslims?
Where is the outrage that Pakistan at a drop of a hat shows in support of foreign Muslim’s in all parts of the world like Bosnia, Chechnya, Palestine, Jammu & Kashmir, Myanmar, Phillipines etc, though not it would seem not Xinjiang where there seems to be a conspiracy of silence?
When the constitution of the country itself is ridden with contradictions and confusion, why should anyone be surprised that the nation has the same problem.
aye, aye......pakistan is not a biggest threat to world peace, it is land of equal opportunities,freedom of speech, freedom of religion, a land where everyone respects other religious people as there equals....this cannot be true, this report is false, how can Pakistanis brainwash their children from childhood in believing their "Islamic republic" is truly only for peaceful Muslims? I won't believe this reports, must be a western propaganda or "arch-rivals" Indians are doing this, because 15% of the world population lives there.