Past to Present

Modern-day Pakistani society is facing numerous challenges like economic instabilities, terrorism, polarization, extremism, and the herculean challenge of intolerance. According to the Demographic Survey 2020, the overwhelming majority of Pakistan’s population belongs to Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z, who have not seen Pakistan at the time of inception and, unfortunately, due to a lack of understanding of History as a discipline, they do not even aware of it. For instance, how many people would consider it true that in the first cabinet under Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan, Mr. Jogedra Nath Mandal, a Pakistani Hindu, became the Law Minister, and an Ahmadi  Sir Mohammad Zafrullah Khan became the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth. It clearly shows the vision of Pakistan as a country with the principles of meritocracy, political participation, and a sense of ownership among all citizens without any discrimination. On 11th August, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder and first governor-general of Pakistan, while addressing the Constituent Assembly, said: “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or any other place or worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the state.” Regretfully, after seven decades, instead of improvement, the situation of Religious Minorities is getting worse. 

Current Situation

According to the 2017 Pakistan census, Muslims are 96.28%, and non-Muslims are 3.72% (Hindu 1.60%, Christian 1.59%, Scheduled Caste 0.25%, Ahmadi 0.22%, and Others 0.7%). Unfortunately, in 2023 and the first half of 2024, several disturbing incidents shook the roots of Pakistani Society. All were totally against the spirit of the Constitution, Religion (Islam), Culture, Law and fundamental Human Rights. For example, one of the incidents happened on August 2023, when a mob set a fire and destroyed private properties, houses, and Churches. According to the report of the National Commission for Human Rights on the Jaranwala Incident,  “The incident was unprecedented in magnitude and ferocity against a vulnerable minority community that had been living in the area for decades.” The other important issue is the forced conversation of Hindu girls. The report  State of Human Rights in 2023 by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan penned down about increasing the phenomena of alleged forced conversation. Furthermore, the incidents of attacks on Ahmadi and worship places have also been reported. 

Concerns of Human Rights Bodies

International Human Rights Organizations have shown serious observations and reservations about the condition of minorities in the Country. The Amnesty International Report on Pakistan stated that “Religious minorities continued to be subjected to violence and harassment. The Human Rights Watch Report 2023 indicated the alarming situation. It stated that “Women, religious minorities and transgender people continued to face violence, discrimination and persecution, with authorities failing to provide adequate protection or hold perpetrators to account. Human Rights officials from the UN gave the statement that “Christian and Hindu girls remain particularly vulnerable to forced religious conversion, abduction, trafficking, child, early and forced marriage, domestic servitude, and sexual violence”. 

Islam  and the Constitution of Pakistan on Religious Minorites 

Ironically, all these incidents are anti-thesis of Islamic teaching and the Constitution of Pakistan. There are two important and meaningful quotes from the Prophet (PBUH) about the status and protection of religious minorities. First, Sahih Bukhari Hadith 3166 narrated by Abdullah bin `Amr: The Prophet PBUH said: “Whoever killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims, shall not smell the smell of Paradise though its smell is perceived from a distance of forty years.” Second, in Sunan Abī Dāwūd Hadith # 3052, Safwan Ibn Sulaym reported: The Prophet PBUH said, “Whoever wrongs a person protected by a covenant, violates his rights, burdens him with more work than he can do, or takes something from him without his consent, I will be his prosecutor on the Day of Resurrection.” It simply reflects whatever case, an individual, mob or group has no discretion to persecute and kill someone in a Muslim society or Country. 

In the context of the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan, it is considered a social contract for Pakistan’s Society. Part 2 directly deals with  Fundamental Rights from Articles 8 to 28, which include fair trial, Freedom to Profess Religion, protection of life and property, freedom of expression, equality and education, etc. Specifically, article 36, Protection of Minorities, states, “The State shall safeguard the legitimate rights and interests  minorities, including their due representation in the Federal and Provincial services.”

Why this cycle is continuing? 

The Constitution and laws of the state are very clear about fundamental rights. However, the question is why the above-mentioned incidents are repeating again and again and it is important to mention that these killings, lynching, damaging properties, etc. are not limited to religious minorities. In February 2004 a person was killed brutally by the mob Nankana Sahib and recently mob lynching took in Swat. The pattern in most cases is the same. The only difference is the victim’s name and the incident’s place. Mobocracy has undermined the writ of the state, and the disastrous aspect is that it is getting social legitimacy from a chunk of the masses. On the other side, there is a group of thinkers who think that there is a need to revisit laws the blasphemy law in Pakistan. However, the counterargument is that all the unfortunate incidents happened without the trials and the court’s verdict. It is more about the trust deficit within the public, state apparatus (administration), and Court of Law. In February 2024, a Lady Police ASP saved the life of a woman who was being accused of wearing an objectionable dress having some writing on it. It depicts the potential of law enforcement agencies, and all they need is support from the government. 

Suggestions

• Society, state, and government should formulate a consensus policy to build a profound narrative that the life of every citizen is priceless, and it should be implemented loudly and clearly.
• All the segments and groups that supported this type of incident should be dealt with under the Iron Hand policy.
• There is a need to inculcate the idea without any ambiguity that it is the court’s domain to decide who is guilty, and it can be effectively implemented by applying a top-to-bottom approach.
• All the political stakeholders and administration must engage the clerics on this critical issue. So, there would be no room to get legitimacy on such a heinous and unpardonable crime in the name of religion.
• Public awareness seminars, conferences, and campaigns regarding human rights should be launched nationwide by engaging local communities, urban centers, and rural and peripheral areas. 
• The land of Pakistan has been the custodian of two world civilizations (Gandhara and Indus) and has a rich tradition of literature and poetry in different geo-ethnic regions of the country. For example, Rehman Baba, Bulleh Shah, and Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s writings emphasized cultural plurality, peace, tolerance,  mysticism, and co-existence. It must be incorporated into the curriculum, and there is an enormous need to reintroduce it to the masses, especially youth, using modern tools.
• The role of the Judiciary is decisive in this regard. Judges must uphold the law and stand firm against all odds. Here, it is important to mention Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani’s suo motu in response to the suicide bomb attack on the church. His judgment is comprehensive, and the Executive should genuinely implement it in its real essence.
• In this post-truth era, where social, digital, electronic, and print media are influential players, media forums must be utilized. This will not only counter issues like hate speech and fake news but also ensure that we, as the audience, are presented with an accurate picture of any incident.