No religious bias in Pakistan

Kindly refer to news item Christians in Asia face mounting persecution (Jan. 18, 1999).

The article inter alia said that Christians complain of discrimination in Pakistan, where the prime minister has sought to make Islamic laws.

Rights of the minorities in Pakistan are protected and guaranteed as enshrined in the constitution. All minorities, including Christians, have the rights to education, freedom of expression, freedom of profession and no discrimination of any kind is meted out to minorities. The minorities, including Christians, have special seats in the national assembly and the provincial assembles. The government provides separate funds for the welfare of Christians and projects related to their uplift.

The Islamic Shariah Law, which has been passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan and is waiting approval by the Senate, provides full protection to minorities according to tenets of Islam. Several minority organizations have hailed the introduction of Shariah laws. In November last year a number of minority organizations staged a demonstration in Islamabad in favor of the introduction of the Shariah Bill. This was because they feel that they would be protected more than ever before under the Islamic laws.

Under the blasphemy law not a single person has so far been punished in Pakistan. Of those who were convicted, their cases are at the appeal stage in the superior courts. So it is an erroneous impression that there is any kind of discrimination against Christians in Pakistan.

SYED AYAZ AHMED PIRZADA

Press Attache

Embassy of Pakistan

Jakarta