Interfaith Harmony in Pakistan vis a vis.pptx

Interfaith Harmony in Pakistan vis a vis

1. 1 Interfaith Harmony in Pakistan Waseem Almas

2. 2 Interfaith harmony refers to the peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation among individuals and communities of different religious beliefs. It involves fostering dialogue, empathy, and collaboration across religious boundaries, with the aim of promoting tolerance, acceptance, and unity in diversity. Definition:

3. 3 Religious Demographics of Pakistan Religion Population 2017 Percentage % Muslims   200,352,754 96.47% Hindus 4,444,437 2.14% Christians 2,637,586 1.27% Ahmadiyyas 207,688 0.09% Sikhs   20,768 0.01% Others 20,767 0.01% Total 207,684,000  

4. 4 The preamble of the Constitution of 1973 The 1973 Constitution Preamble is the part of the Objective Resolution which was passed by the Constituent assembly in 1949 and gave sovereignty to Allah Almighty and makes the state Islamic Republic, this was also part of 156 and 1962 constitutions. According to this Preamble, all religious minorities are safeguarded and protected under the constitution and also in the light of the Quran and Sunnah .

5. 5 The Constitution of 1973 and the Rights of the Minorities In Pakistan constitution were written three times in 1956, 1962, and 1973, all of them had some differences but also have some common ground and the common ground was equal rights and freedom for every minority who live in Pakistan. Part II of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 consists of two chapters, whereas chapter one named “Fundamental Rights” contains articles 8-28 of the basic rights of citizens in the country, which includes freedom of religion to the majority and all minorities. The main focuses of the 1973 Constitution to develop Fundamental Rights for human beings/ all citizens of the state in the lights of the “Quran and Sunnah ” as well as Charter of UNO

6. 6 Article 20 of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 is from Part II name as Fundamental rights and contains articles from 8 to 28 . This article deals with the religious freedom of non-Muslims in Pakistan. “Freedom to profess religion and to manage religious institutions. ( a) every citizen shall have the right to profess, practise and propagate his religion; and (b) every religious group have the right to establish, maintain and manage its religious institutions” (The Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973). Religious Freedom

7. 7 Article 21 of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 is also from Part II name as Fundamental Rights and contains articles from 8 to 28. This article gives security to religious and other minorities from paying against any extra and special taxation: “ Safeguard against taxation for purposes of any particular religion. No person shall be compelled to pay any special tax the proceeds of which are to be spent on the propagation or maintenance of any religion other than his own”( The Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973) Safeguards against Taxation

8. 8 Article 22 of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 is also from Part II name as Fundamental Rights and contains articles from 8 to 28 . According to this article, religious educational institutions are safe in Pakistan: “Safeguards as to educational institutions in respect of religion, etc Safeguards as to Religious Educational Institutions

9. 9 Article 27 of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 is also from Part II name as Fundamental Rights and contains articles from 8 to 28. This article saves religious minorities against discrimination services: “Safeguard against discrimination in services. (1) No citizen otherwise qualified for appointment in the service of Pakistan shall be discriminated against in respect of any such appointment on the ground only of race, religion, caste, sex, residence or place of birth. Safeguard against Discrimination in Services

10. 10 Article 28 of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 is also from Part II name as Fundamental Rights and contains articles from 8 to 28. This article safeguards the ethnicity, culture, rituals, and books of minorities: Preservation of Language, Script, and Culture Article 251 any section of citizens having a distinct language, script or culture shall have the right to preserve and promote the same and subject to law, establish institutions for that purpose”(The Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973). In this article, the constitution protected the language of minorities. Although in Article 251, Constitution made Urdu the national language of the country but also protect the other languages of the state:

11. 11 Religious Freedom Safeguards against Taxation Safeguards as to Religious Educational Institutions Safeguard against Discrimination in Services Preservation of Language, Script, and Culture Overall Sketch

12. 12 Minority representation in the Parliament and Provincial Assemblies Provincial Assemblies Punjab 8 Seats Sindh 9 Seats KPK 3 Seats Baluchistan 3 Seats National Assembly 10 Reserved seats

13. 13 Year Murdered on account of religious beliefs Booked under Blasphemy Law Booked under Ahmadi specific laws 2007 5 22 24 2008 6 30 76 2009 11 37 57 2010 (to date) 91 Persecutions of Ahmadis in Pakistan

14. 14 International Christian Concern Report 10/25/2021 Religious minorities were less confident about attaining a fair trial compared to their Muslims counterparts. Majority versus minority rhetoric has made our respondents believe that this country is for Muslims and so is the law. The discrimination faced by these marginalized communities is not only external but also fueled by casteism and socioeconomic disparity within these communities.”

15. 15 Examples of Karak District KPK The  violent incident  of burning a  Hindu temple  occurred in Pakistan’s  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region  on  December 30, 2020 .  A mob of 1,500 local Muslims, led by a local Islamic cleric, attacked and set fire to the Samadhi of Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj , a revered Hindu saint, and the Krishna Dwara temple situated in the village of Teri, in the  Karak District .

16. 16 Report by Minority Rights Group International (MRG) A mob smashed statues, looted gold artefacts and  set Hindu temples ablaze  in the town of Larkana . May 5, 2013

17. 17   83 people were killed  in a twin suicide bombing in Peshawar.  September 22, 2013

18. 18  blasphemy March 7, 2013: Protesters set ablaze more than 200 houses belonging to Christians in Joseph Colony Lahore, after Sawan Masih , a member of the colony, was  accused of blasphemy .

19. 19 November 4, 2014: mob beat a  Christian couple  to death near Lahore and burnt their bodies in the brick kiln where they worked on Tuesday for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran .

20. 20 May 13, 2015 Gunmen on motorcycles boarded a bus and opened fire on commuters belonging to the Ismaili community in Karachi,  killing at least 43 people.  Militant group Jundullah , which has attacked minorities before, claimed responsibility.

21. 21 November 21, 2015 An angry  mob set ablaze a factory  owned by members of the Ahmadiyya community in Jhelum . According to sources, the mob attacked the factory after accusing one person who worked there of committing blasphemy

22. 22 March 27, 2016 72 people were killed  and more than 300 injured when a suicide bomb ripped through the parking space of a crowded park in Lahore where Christians were celebrating Easter Sunday.

23. 23 Minorities situation in 2023 42 incidents in places of worship of minorities Punjab 29 Sindh 10 Kashmir 3

24. 24 1. Societal Divisions Marginalization of Religious Minorities: Religious minorities in Pakistan, such as Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadis , often face social discrimination and exclusion. This marginalization extends to various aspects of life, including employment, education, and representation in public life. Such systemic inequality limits the ability of these communities to engage in interfaith dialogues on equal footing and contributes to a broader atmosphere of intolerance. Contemporary Challenges of Inter-Faith Dialogue in Pakistan

25. 25 2. Religious Extremism and Intolerance Blasphemy Laws and Their Misuse : Pakistan's blasphemy laws, intended to protect religious sentiments, have been subject to widespread misuse. Accusations of blasphemy can lead to mob violence and legal persecution, often targeting religious minorities. These laws create an environment where open discussion about religion is fraught with danger, severely limiting the scope for interfaith dialogue. Influence of Extremist Ideologies: Extremist groups in Pakistan have played a significant role in shaping the religious discourse. These groups often propagate radical ideologies, inciting violence against religious minorities and moderate Muslims. Their influence undermines efforts towards peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding, making interfaith dialogue challenging

26. 26 Political and Legal Framework State Policies and Religious Freedom: The political narrative in Pakistan regarding religion often intertwines with issues of national identity and security. State policies, reflecting these narratives, have a significant impact on religious freedom and interfaith dialogue. Restrictions on religious freedoms, either through direct action or indirect societal pressures, pose substantial challenges to creating an environment conducive to interfaith understanding 4. Institutional Support for Dialogue The lack of sufficient institutional support for interfaith initiatives is another challenge. While there are efforts by various organizations, consistent and comprehensive support from government and educational institutions is necessary to promote widespread and effective interfaith dialogue. 3. Political and Legal Framework

27. 27 Educational System's Role: The role of the educational system in Pakistan in shaping attitudes towards different religions is crucial. Often, the curricula and textbooks may present a skewed perspective of religious history and relations, contributing to a lack of understanding and empathy among young peopl 5 . Educational System's Role

28. 28 The Role of International Politics Global Political Influences: International politics and its impact on local religious dynamics cannot be ignored. The global war on terror, regional conflicts, and international relations have influenced religious discourse in Pakistan, sometimes fuelling sectarianism and radical ideologies. Economic Factors and Social Inequality: Economic disparities and social inequality also play a role in exacerbating religious tensions. Poverty and lack of education can make certain segments of the population more vulnerable to extremist ideologies, further complicating the landscape of interfaith dialogue. 6.The Role of International Politics

29. 29 The main issue is that no one is interested in religious unity. Also, according to the research's findings, young people are not sufficiently aware of how minorities are persecuted in Pakistan or the political and legal strategies employed to do so. 7. Lack of Interest 8. Inadequate Knowledge Political instability and inadequate acknowledgment of religious conflict are two of the main problems with Pakistan's interfaith conflict. The majority of contemporary interfaith activities in the country center on the funding of religious leaders who discuss deep philosophical matters that may not be relevant or accessible to the majority of young Pakistanis.

30. 30 9. Intolerance Information about Pakistan's different religions that are based on a weak understanding of that religion's literature can lead to confusion and hesitation. When someone chooses a religion, they tend to think that all other religions are less important. Their skewed way of thinking comes from their history of being in charge and building religious empires. Ideas like this make it harder for people of different faiths to get along.

31. 31 10. The Un-Fair Use of Religion When religion is used well, it reveals its true nature and value, and when it is misused, awful things happen. The unfettered use of religion by some individuals, who push their beliefs over those of others, has erred dangerously. This trend has grown, especially when considered in light of the post-9/11 situation and the War on Terror's global viewpoint. This has not only hurt Pakistan's international standing but also cast doubt on the character of the Pakistani people, who have been taught and have shown a commitment to embracing racial and ethnic diversity.

32. 32 The political, executive and social set up of the country must be made pro-ınter-faith dialogue. Every anti-non-Muslim activity based on hatred and prejudice should be dealt with iron hands. Immediate constitutional amendments are necessary in this regard. Moreover, a detailed review and analysis of the current constitutional clauses related to the non-Muslim minorities is necessary and the disputed clauses in the current constitution should be amended or abolished . Police and Judiciary should be active and dynamic in the prospective of the sensitivity of such issues related to the non-Muslims. Necessary measures should be taken after a thorough and impartial investigation of such issues. Undue haste in such matters should be avoided. Specially, the accused of blasphemy should be protected inside and outside the prison before his judicial trail and judgment. Recommendations

33. 33 4. Effective and impartial constitutional amendments should be made to stop the forced change of religion. 5. The sectarian and prejudiced religious literature should be banned. 6 Inter-Faith Dialogue should be given proper importance in the educational curriculum and the points based on religious prejudice should be removed instantly. 7. The political parties must allow and encourage the followers of all the faiths and sects to join them. Rather, they must be given all kinds of opportunities and rights to prosper there. 8. The quota of employment for the religious minorities at all levels should be increased. Moreover, the overall procedure of employment for the non-Muslim minorities should be reviewed and improved. 9. The religious discrimination related to electoral laws and Election Commission should be eliminated and every possible effort should be made to allow them to join the national stream.

34. Thanks! Do you have any suggestions & questions 34