No religious bias in Pakistan<\/p>\n
Kindly refer to news item Christians in Asia face mounting
\npersecution (Jan. 18, 1999).<\/p>\n
The article inter alia said that Christians complain of
\ndiscrimination in Pakistan, where the prime minister has sought
\nto make Islamic laws.<\/p>\n
Rights of the minorities in Pakistan are protected and
\nguaranteed as enshrined in the constitution. All minorities,
\nincluding Christians, have the rights to education, freedom of
\nexpression, freedom of profession and no discrimination of any
\nkind is meted out to minorities. The minorities, including
\nChristians, have special seats in the national assembly and the
\nprovincial assembles. The government provides separate funds for
\nthe welfare of Christians and projects related to their uplift.<\/p>\n
The Islamic Shariah Law, which has been passed by the National
\nAssembly of Pakistan and is waiting approval by the Senate,
\nprovides full protection to minorities according to tenets of
\nIslam. Several minority organizations have hailed the
\nintroduction of Shariah laws. In November last year a number of
\nminority organizations staged a demonstration in Islamabad in
\nfavor of the introduction of the Shariah Bill. This was because
\nthey feel that they would be protected more than ever before
\nunder the Islamic laws.<\/p>\n
Under the blasphemy law not a single person has so far been
\npunished in Pakistan. Of those who were convicted, their cases
\nare at the appeal stage in the superior courts. So it is an
\nerroneous impression that there is any kind of discrimination
\nagainst Christians in Pakistan.<\/p>\n
SYED AYAZ AHMED PIRZADA<\/p>\n
Press Attache<\/p>\n
Embassy of Pakistan<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/no-religious-bias-in-pakistan-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }