Examining the 'Religious' Roots of Discrimination against Minorities in Pakistan
Eaisha Tareen*

The state of religious minorities in Pakistan today is a far cry from the vision of its founding father, Mohammad Ali Jinnah. His oft-repeated words, about members of all communities, irrespective of ‘colour, caste or creed’ being equal citizens ‘with equal rights, privileges and obligations’ seem to carry no meaning now for the vast majority of Pakistanis. Time and again, religious minorities are not only treated as second-class citizens and systematically discriminated against, but are often subject to gross violations of human rights.

Discrimination against any group is a multifactorial phenomenon with complex historical, social, economic and political factors underpinning it. Similarly, there is a complex interplay between religion and politics in Pakistan, which has been present since its inception and has had profound and far-reaching consequences, not just nationally but internationally. This paper briefly outlines the current situation of religious minorities in Pakistan and examines the religious ideology that is used as justification for discrimination. Islam, purportedly being the raison d’etre of Pakistan, is interwoven into the social, cultural, legal and political fabric of the society. Recourse is made to the dictates of Shari’a when issues related to the rights of minorities arise. But what is Shari’a and is it possible to enforce it in modern times? What was the treatment meted out to religious minorities in the nascent period of Islam? What consequences have the attempts at ‘Islamisation’ had for minorities in Pakistan? It is these questions that this paper attempts to address.

Urgent efforts need to be made to challenge religious intolerance and discrimination at the public and governmental level. It is only by doing so that we can hope to promote the development of ‘just, peaceful and inclusive societies’, which is one of the Sustainable Development Goals promulgated by the United Nations in 2015.

Reference

Jinnah, M.A. 1947, ‘Presidential Address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan’, 11 August.

* Dr Eaisha Tareen is a clinical psychologist based in Lahore, Pakistan. Her doctorate, from the University of Essex, was in the area of depression and social support. She has a special interest in Islamic studies and has taught Islamic studies courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate level at the University of London.