Religious Minorities Rights: Myth and Realities

Maj(R)Nazir Hussain  Shah; Tahira  Parveen; Tayyaba  Syed; Ayesha  Kanwal

Maj(R)Nazir Hussain Shah Department of IR, Lahore Garrison University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Tahira Parveen Department of IR, Lahore Garrison University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Tayyaba Syed Management Sciences Department, Virtual University Islamabad, Pakistan
Ayesha Kanwal NTS, Head Quarter Islamabad, Pakistan.

Abstract

The Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 defines the state of Pakistan as an “Islamic State”. It is a Muslim majority State were living several religious minorities as the equal citizens of Pakistan. Constitution of Pakistan 1973 gives equal opportunities to all citizens irrespective of their casts, creeds, beliefs, status, religion, language, tribe and gender. This constitution also gives the equal respect and tolerance for all religious communities of Pakistan. This paper examines the constitutional status of religious minorities in Pakistan according to the constitution of 1973. This constitution not only provides a general picture of major religious Minorities of Pakistan the Christians, Hindus and the Sikhs. The paper also explains the constitutional challenges and hurdles which religious minorities of Pakistan are facing.