Social Status and Political Participation of Christian Minority in Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistan is plural country where equal citizenship based on unfettered human rights could lead to many improvement. This can only happen if the country’s leaders and opinion-makers act more responsibility and avoid inciting hatred by preaching tolerance and co-existence. It is imperative for the Pakistani ruling elite to revisit Jinnah’s vision of tolerant, plural and democratic Pakistan, anchored on the principles of equal citizenship and other rights, irrespective of caste, creed or gender. Such an ideal was the original creed of the movement for Pakistan and forms a point of concensus for a vast majority of the population even today. The actions of non- representative regimes and the difficult inter-communal relations have only worsened inter-community relationship in Pakistan. Almost half of the period of Pakistan’s history as a modern nation has seen military rule. In Pakistan religious minorities, especially Christians had to face a number of challenges as citizens. The role of military, the political use of religion by governments and a weak civil society, all pose enormous threats to the Christian minority in Pakistan. The status of Christians in Pakistan has been the subject of much debate and controversy. The Christians remain vulnerable group in Pakistan with inadequate legal protection to the safeguard their rights. The need to ensure protection of minority rights in compelling. Pakistan is yet to ratify the international covenant on civil and political rights and the international covenant on social, economic and cultural rights, among other human rights instruments. Defending the principle of equal citizenship and non-discrimination and disallowing the use of religion to violate the rights of non-Muslim citizens, must be priorities to any government. This isvii perhaps the only way to protect Pakistan’s ethnic and religious diversity, and the security of future generation. For Christian minority in Pakistan to have the necessary influence or the opportunity to either change the events having direct relations to their active participation in development process, there is a need to put mechanism in place that enable them to engage in democratic process in polity and governance. Access to education is critical for benefitting from emerging opportunities. From lower levels of enrollment to a sharp decline in participation in higher levels of education, the situation in Pakistan. The Christian minority is indeed very depressing and the problem is more acute for girls and women. Minorities, especially the Christians are outside social and economic planning and development programs both as providers and receivers. This is a right for true diversity-natural to its population but not reflected in the public spheres because of discrimination and unequal opportunity. Given the precarious conditions of the self-employed persons in the informal sector, especially the home-based Christian women workers, a social security system for such workers may be introduced. Religious violence not only demoralize minorities but render them destitute, making them lose whatever little they have. Nobody among those whose job is to protect the lives and property of citizens have to made accountable or punished.